Daydream Believer

The Value of Branding

2011-06-26T13:59:00.001+08:00

Oh look, I'm back :) I know this site of mine deserves so much more attention than it gets but my offline life just gets in the way. This site is one that I really invested a lot of time and effort to in the beginning, after all. I personalized the template (and this was back when Blogger didn't have the easy to do tabs and stuff! and for someone who has no clue what she's doing, it was a big feat!!!) and even worked on personalizing banners and buttons. And let's not forget this is the site that carries my "brand"....yapatoots :)

Branding or personalizing, whether it is a website, a blog, or even a company, is essential. It is through this that your goals, vision/mission and purpose is known, after all. If you were a home based baking business, for example, that specialized on custom food products creating a logo and carrying a slogan that called that out would be very essential. If you branded your products well enough, and had a good visual reference for it, it can help open up many doors for your business.

While word-of-mouth advertising is always a good way to go, it doesn't hurt to have a wide array of advertising options. Nowadays there are so many free options, such as through social networking sites like Facebook. I know of a friend who sells hair bows and accessories for children and what she does is offer promotional items for purchases made via Facebook and according to her, she's gotten a good response.
You can also check out those personalizing websites (such as www.branders.com) that offer promotional products with your site/products names/logos etcetera. They're quite easy to work with and they offer good deals for big or small industries. Nowadays, ordering promotional and personalized giveaways no longer have to be expensive or limited to the big industry! Be it stickers, pens, t-shirts or what not, branding yourself is definitely the way to go. I remember when I started blogging for business, there was this site that did a keychain giveaway with the name of their brand. Hmmm...maybe I should order some "yapatoots" keychains, yes? :)

Eco friendly schools on the rise, reaping benefits

2011-06-12T21:38:00.001+08:00

The large increase in going green is expanding all over the world today. Schools are proving to be no exception to this rule, as green construction and practices have become increasingly popular in the education system. Faculty members are always looking for what will help their students in the end and many are realizing that eco-friendly schools are putting up some of the best performances in the classroom. With the increase in sustainability and cut on health problems, eco-friendly schools are continuing to become more and more popular.

The sustainability factor plays a large role in the decisions to “green” anything it seems and schools are no different. Even though the initial construction or remodeling costs of a green school may be more expensive, the cut on long term utilities will more than make up for the extra expenses in the building process. These long term utility expenses will directly reflect one of the great reasons in making a school green.

Making a school eco-friendly can also have a number of health benefits with lower cases of environmental health risks to students and faculty. Through new sets of ventilation and filtering, toxins are cut in an eco friendly environment, which often has a direct result of improved health. With improved health often comes higher attendance. With the higher attendance, grades and performance will likely improve as well.

Replacing the insulation of a school with green options has been shown to be a great way to cut down on health risks within the education system. Many older schools still contain asbestos fibers in their insulation (a material commonly related to the disease mesothelioma). With the choice to use green insulation, many of the health risks that may come with toxic insulation are being eliminated in the process. Even without the need for asbestos removal, green insulation provides one of the best ways to increase a buildings overall sustainability and lower utility costs. In the older schools with toxic insulation, a switch to green may prevent some life threatening health problems, seeing as mesothelioma life expectancy is severe (only an average of a year following diagnosis).

These are just a handful of the reasons in which eco-friendly schools are having multiple benefits for students and faculty today. Higher grades, attendance, better utility costs, and reduced health risks are major bragging points. Certainly with the upward swing in green lifestyles and the benefits of making a school green, it wouldn’t be surprising one bit to see eco-friendly schools continue to pop up and become the norm.

Missing The Theater

2011-05-15T19:51:00.001+08:00

When I was a child (despite the fact that I, um, cannot sing or dance to save my life!!!) I used to do theatre performances. I loved productions...I used to play all sorts of roles and yes, even if I was often off-key in singing, I could get away with it on stage, especially since the singing voices were recorded anyway. The acting part, perhaps, is what I really loved. It's funny because to be honest, I am a very, very shy person. However, when I was younger, I would dream of performing in big stages, not just in the Philippines, but more on Broadway and those big theatres like Radio City Music Hall or Madison Square Garden, or even in those stadiums and coliseums that are great venues for productions.

As I grew older, my fascination for theater shifted from wanting to perform in it to being content with watching such wonderful plays like Cats and Miss Saigon, as well as the movie based plays such as The Wedding Singer and Legally Blonde. If only theater tickets weren't so expensive and hard to come by (especially here in the Philippines), I'd watch a play once a month!!!

One play I would love to catch that's coming to my neck of the woods soon is the Cirque du Soleil: Zarkana. I do hope tickets come my way....but wait, I suppose I gotta find out when and where it will be on first. Haha.

Anyway, what's your favorite theater production? Care to share?

Fresh Starts

2011-05-15T19:34:00.000+08:00

I'm back...

Yes, I know it's been a while. Sometimes I just run out of steam, I guess, managing everything I have to be managing. But anyway, like I was saying, I'm back :) Or at least I'm trying. Teehee.

I took the past two weeks off from life in general, and today I am ending that little hiatus and well, lets hope I stay on track for a bit.

See ya around peeps :)

Alternative Sleepwear and More

2011-04-06T23:21:00.000+08:00

I love sleeping in very loose and comfortable pajamas. No, I do not like night shirts and lingerie, just jammies. However, when I go on overnight trips and have to bunk with a roomie for the night, I kinda need something that doesn’t look too comfy and err....homey. One thing I have discovered are hospital scrubs. I don't know if you have ever tried them, but they're quite nice to wear.

My friend who is a physical therapist actually introduced these to me. Since this is her uniform and she works with kids, she gets the nice ones with cartoon characters and all but for someone like me who is neither a doctor, nurse or therapist, one of those discount medical scrubs will do.

Nowadays, these medical uniforms are not limited to doctors and nurses anymore. Almost anyone can wear them, in fact. As for me, one reason I like them, besides of course it's inherent comfort, is the fact that I used to wish I were a doctor and so this is as close I get to the profession that I used to want to get into. Haha. And you thought only children played pretend and dress up, huh?

Looking for Investments

2011-03-04T21:38:00.000+08:00

My gosh.

Today gas prices went up again. I tell you living in this day and age is increasingly getting more and more difficult. Add to that the fact that I suck at saving, right? Soooo...maybe this year I should change that. The question is: what to invest in? Real estate sounds interesting, but they say it's not a good time to buy now. Stocks are interesting, but, I'm not much of a risk taker. Gold is a popular choice but I wouldn't know how to begin trying to spot gold deals that are good and what are the going gold prices nowadays.

One reason gold would be a good investment, or so I've been told, is because the price of gold is relatively errr, I dunno if stable would be a right term, but what I mean is though gold prices may dip from time to time, it always can be counted on to go up again.

So, whatchathink? C'mon guys, lets go to one of them mines or a gold spot and stike it rich? haha. Where's that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow when you need it!!!

iBlog 7: Not Just Part of the Audience!

2011-03-04T21:32:00.000+08:00

This will be my third year attending the annual bloggers convention, iBlog, and this year, I have been picked as one of the speakers :)

Yeeeeey.....Yiiiiikes....Egaaaaad.

Talk about mixed emotions haha. Wish me luck

Ceiling Fans And Dining Ambiance

2011-02-26T16:50:00.000+08:00

One of the things I look for when I eat out is comfort. While I may always say that I would pick fashion over comfort when I'm dressing up, when it comes to eating out, I don't like being stuck in a stuffy restaurant. I especially like restaurants that are open and spacious because I truly hate dining in a place where I can't even hear myself think. I particularly like the rustic feel of places that are by the bay or the sea, just like the dining area in my favorite resort (which sadly has closed down already. boo.) Because it's so open and spacious, it is cool and breezy. Sometimes, though, especially during the summer, they need to run the Ceiling fans to get good circulation going.

The one thing I like best about having a Ceiling fan is that it does allow for good air circulation, especially since we all know hot air rises, right? So if it's being moved around from up where the fan is installed, it allows for more movement, thus dispelling the heaviness in the air that tends to build up. At least that's the best way I can describe it hehe.

There are a lot of available types and models of ceiling fans in the market. From really large ones for commercial use to smaller, more home-friendly ones, there is sure to be one that will best suit your needs. Before you go out and get one, however, it is important to do the legwork and read about what's out there. I bet there are good deals to be found, such as from Hansen Wholesale Ceiling Fans among others. Find out who makes the Best Ceiling Fans here!

Happy shopping!

Rubbabu: Toys and Other Nice Things

2011-02-26T16:40:00.000+08:00

I recently was invited to a media briefing about a new toy line that is set to hit the market really soon: Rubbabu toys. They are the cutest things, I tell ya. Alright, granted you've heard that time and again, but just go with it, okay? Haha. One added bonus to the whole Rubbabu brand is that unlike many toy brands out there, this one is almost completely environmentally friendly.

I made a whole list of why this is such a great toy for kids. Please do read about it in my teacher blog, www.theaccidentalteacher.com :)

Scrubs...Not Just For Doctors :-)

2011-01-03T07:33:00.000+08:00

One of the things my friend, who is a physical therapist, keeps telling me is how comfortable it is to sleep in her scrubs. Sure, they're medical uniforms but since she is no longer with the company that issued those scrubs, she uses it for sleeping. Actually, I was laughing at her when she made it a point to bring these scrubs from here when she migrated to the US. I was telling her she really didn’t need it, but she was like, I want it. She says it allows her to move freely and comfortably. I never really thought they could be comfy, but now that I think of it, doctors, nurses and therapists who use scrubs need to be able to move quickly and freely with what they're wearing, right?
Actually, I love how these nurses and doctors scrubs have become quite cute and stylish, especially the ones for pediatricians. They come with cute little characters that are so adorable.From hearts to stars and cartoon characters, these scrubs are no longer limited to plain white, hospital-y looking thingies.They come in all sorts of colors too. I see them when the nannies and caregivers around our neighborhood (yes, scrubs have evolved to being used by so many other professions!). If I were to get a pair for myself, I'd pick a set of teal green scrubs. That would be so cute I tell ya!

Back in Business

2011-01-03T07:03:00.000+08:00

After another looooong hiatus....I'm back. :-) Wish me luck this time around...I need to keep this blog going. After all, it was the one that kept me company through the long dark nights that I struggled with. It has my inner most thoughts (well, at least those that are available for public consumption teeheeheee) and so I wanna make sure it stays alive.

I do hope you come back and visit every now and then! Even more, I hope I have new stuff for you to read when you return!

Statistics....my research Waterloo

2010-07-10T20:35:00.000+08:00

Today my friend and I were discussing why I still had not gotten my thesis done. Or research for that matter. One one hand, I really wanna get it done, but on the other, I really don't want to. Talk about ambivalence. I guess for one Statistics problems make me nervous and it makes me feel incompetent. Statistics questions my self-esteem and my general sense of well-being. That's really one thing that's holding me back. I know that I can get a lot of Statistics help from my friends and colleagues, but even that isn't enough to motivate me.

Seriously, however, getting a Statistics tutor may help me get over that fear. Finding free Statistics help is actually quite easy, especially now that we are living in a highly technological world. Through the internet, there are many sites to find Statistics answers. An added bonus, it's all available at my fingertips anytime of day. Plus there are all sorts of software to make computing and the like quick and almost painless.

Perhaps soon I will overcome my fear of research.Hopefully it come before it's too late. But then again....let's see what happens! To be fair, I do join in with group research projects and in the meantime, that's gotta suffice :-)

Salt Arrives this July!

2010-07-10T20:16:00.001+08:00

After such a long wait, I am so happy to know that Angelina Jolie's latest movie, SALT, will finally be in theaters this July! As far as I know, this has been in the works since 2009 and I have seen so many trailers promoting it but it isn't till now that we have final confirmation that it will be shown at the end of the month. I CAN'T WAIT!!! Woot!

The Wonderful World of PDF

2010-06-30T18:29:00.001+08:00

As a child, I loved spending countless hours in the bookstore. When I was living in the States, my playground of choice was the neighborhood library. However, now that I am grown up, I don't have the luxury of spending time in those places anymore. In fact, I barely have time to read :-( Right now, the only stuff I end up reading are journal articles and ebooks on my handy-dandy E63.It helps a lot that pdf files are readily available and easily downloaded into my phone so I can read them whenever I am in transit.

One thing, however, that frustrates me when I browse pdf files online, especially those that are for academic purposes, is that sometimes it is not specified if it is a full article or if it's just an abstract. It would help if there were thumbnails and previews that would allow me to check the files, such as the newagepdfsearch, without downloading first, that way I don't use up the precious little space left in my trusty lappy.

Also, as a teacher, I try to save my files in pdf so that I can be more confident in uploading and sharing notes and lectures with my students. This way I am assured, to some degree, that whatever I send is not as easily changed as compared to in a simple document file.

Looking for nominees for the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs?

2010-06-30T17:51:00.000+08:00

It's just about that time of the year where the blogosphere searches for the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs of the year. I found out about this contest last year when I got into the whole blogging scene. Back then, my blog, The Accidental Teacher was nominated!

This year, two of my blogs have made appearances on the list again! Nominated are The Accidental Teacher and Fat Girl No More.I am so honored to actually be nominated, and I can only wish I can actually make the top 10 this year. Competition is tight though!!!

If you wanna join the writing contest and are looking for nominees, please do consider my blogs ;-) One more blog I'm advocating for is my friend Earth's blog, Surviving Autism and for foodie fans, Nomnomclub.

What's in the Rainbow's End?

2010-06-30T15:47:00.000+08:00

Sometimes I wish I could still believe in the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. That will definitely solve a lot of my money woes and let me have the power to purchase whatever I want, whenever I want :-) I don't really need much, but I would love having the option of not having to be tied down to a job to earn a living. Imagine, if I could spot gold at the end of a rainbow were real, given the price of gold in today's market, I could sure solve not just my problems, but even other people who matter to me.

What's also great about having a pot of gold at my disposal is the fact that gold prices continue to go up, no matter how bad a market can be. Even if gold price fluctuates now and then, it still is a worthwhile investment. This is why, I think, many people invest in gold buillon and bars.

So, do you wanna join me in finding a gold spot at the end of the rainbow??? Hahaha! If only these were real!!! For now, I will settle for investing in gold jewelry! Speaking of which, maybe this would be a great gift for my latest goddaughter, what do you think???

Eclipse Opens Today!!!!

2010-06-30T15:29:00.000+08:00

Though I am not a big Twilight Fan, I can't help but get into the whole Twilight Fever whenever it comes up. Last night I got to catch an advanced screening of the latest installment of the series, Eclipse. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it a lot :-) There were a lot of cheesy, funny, and kilig moments that any viewer would enjoy, particularly the female audiences :-)

Two of my favorite lines: (without spoiling anything!)
"You have to admit, I'm hotter than you!" Jacob to Edward
"Jacob....stay!" Bella to Jacob

cute huh? ;-)

Back from hiatus

2010-06-15T12:00:00.000+08:00

Gosh, I can't believe I've neglected this blog for quite some time....I hope to be able to be more consistent in updating this soon. I've just been very busy with my numerous jobs plus trying to successfully maintain to many blogs mwahahaha.

Anyway, I will try to be back here more often! This blog will undergo some changes, though, so watch out for that :-)

AyosDito.ph taps into my inner bagaholic!

2010-05-20T12:32:00.004+08:00

I swore I will never buy a branded bag in my lifetime. No matter how popular or beautiful these bags may be, whether it is a Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada or Hermés, I wasn't going to buy them. Now...if I were to be given one as a present, that's another story!!!

Anyway, when I was browsing through the AyosDito.ph website (I was looking if they had any of those good, sturdy laptop bags for sale that's suitable for traveling. Last time I went out of town my laptop kinda got squeezed around because my bag was not airplane worthy!) I came across a whole bunch of these branded bags. I quickly dismissed them and wondered why people spent so much money on these bags until I came across something that caught my eye:

Pretty, right? Against my better judgment, I clicked it and fell in love with it even more! *sigh*

What I like about it is that it's a super simple and classic design without so much fanfare and yet can catch anyone's eye (it sure caught mine!) Plus, it reminds me of the bag in the television show Rubi which stars Angelica Panganiban. Being a big fan of that show I suppose is what attracted me to this bag. Hers was black though, but I prefer this gold version. However, the price tag broke my heart!!!

Yes, my inner bagaholic suddenly came back to life!

I guess it's back to the bag search for me since this is an impossibility for me! Luckily AyosDito.ph has a whole bunch of other beautiful bags, some preloved, some brand new. I'm sure something here will fit my budget. Let's just hope I don't get sidetracked by all the other products and classified ads in the website or else I'd be needing more than just 217,000!!! This may be a tall order though: browsing through these ads is so easy and user-friendly, plus it makes doing online purchases so easy that it will take every ounce of effort to control myself. Although I have to admit, having online shopping so readily available in a local setting is a great thing. Perhaps I should think about selling some things there too, what do you think?

Showbiz Politics

2010-05-12T19:56:00.000+08:00

With the end of the elections, the people's mandate is clear: showbiz is not always a guarantee to Philippine politics. HOWEVER, a large percentage of showbiz personalities still won their various posts. Take for example Lucy Torres-Gomez and Manny Pacquaio. We also have the topnotcher senatorial bet Ramon Bong Revilla. I am not taking away anything from these actors-sports personalities-etcetera turned politician but one thing is clear with me: I hope they do a good job. Perhaps personally I wouldn't have voted for them, but who knows what the next six years will bring. Let's see and hope for the best. Just remember: unlike the movies, there isn't a take two here so please do it right :-)

Webhosting, HTML and other online language

2010-05-12T01:01:00.000+08:00

Two years ago, I knew nothing about CSS, HTML and all these foreign sounding codes. I figured, why'd I have to learn about it when I had my free blogging platform that worked like a charm. It had built in designs and templates, all I really needed to do was type in my text and click publish. However, after some time I got bored with the backgrounds, the colors and so on and so forth so I started exploring the lay-outs and codes. Soon enough I learned what java script meant and these previously unknown terms became understandable to me. At first, it was limited to just tweaking the html codes. My biggest accomplishment at that time was being able to install my own favicon, thanks to some online tutorials!!!

Today I have progressed to knowing about bandwidth, cpanel and cheap hosting plans that offered the best package for your blogging needs. I am lucky I have a web host who helps me a lot with figuring out how things work and who gives me tips to improve the monetizing potential of my blogs. It's nice that even someone like me can redesign and tweak my blogs almost completely independently.

The next thing I have to master with this whole blogging thing is remembering how all these things work and more importantly: the passwords of all my different blog accounts!!!

Bubba's Vacation!!!

2010-05-12T00:52:00.000+08:00

I am looking forward to Thursday because at long last, I will be taking Bubba back to the beach!!! :-) The last time we were there was October two years ago and both he and I enjoyed it a lot. The only downside to our trip is the fact that my trusty old point and shoot camera broke down...just when I bought a new battery for it. For some reason, it started taking photos with all these random white lines on it. My online friends say it looks like a lens problem and that having it repaired may not be worth it. I'm gonna give it a shot though, but most likely they're right :-( Funny though, it can still take videos. Let's see what happens from here. I'm trying to stop myself from buying a new one because a.) I don't really need it and b.) I have my SLR camera anyway. But I still want a handy point and shoot!!! Gadget gods please send one my way!!!

Schoolhouse Cleanup

2010-05-09T16:59:00.000+08:00

One of the hardest things to do in terms of getting ready for an upcoming school year is updating the equipment and cleaning up the school grounds, especially when you have a limited budget to work with. In our school, one other problem we have to contend with is that since we are renting the building, we cannot just do structural repairs such as changing the roofing or taking down a wall without the permission of the owner.

If I could, I would really want to explore flooring solutions for our covered playground area because I truly detest the cemented area where the kids play

Even though our playground looks nice, that particular area worries me because of it's accident potential. We also have an area near my classroom that has a pebble wash flooring which I want to do something about, such epoxy slip-proof flooring just like what I saw in the flooring solutions melbourne site. I think this may make our school even safer for our kids.

Wanna win some $$$? :-)

2010-05-08T16:15:00.001+08:00

One of my other blogs, www.yapatoots.com is celebrating it's FIRST BLOG ANNIVERSARY!!! :-) Thanks to a whole bunch of sponsors and supporters, I am hosting a thanksgiving contest and I am inviting you all to join. This is a great opportunity to take time out and give thanks and recognize what we are grateful for.

The prizes are as follows:

GRAND PRIZE
- - $30 USD via Paypal
  - INFO domain plus hosting for one year
  - 1 Pinoy Blogger Shirt from Lakwatsero
  - 1 Yummy Book
  - Sponsorship Link for 6 months
  - running ads link for 1 year
  - 2 125×125 banner ad for a month

Other prizes:
- First Place
  - $15
  - 1,500 EC credits
  - A dress from the Fab Recessionista
  - 1 YummyBook
  - Sponsorship Link for 6 months
  - running ads link for 1 year
  - 1 month ad space
- Second Place
  - $10
  - 1,000 EC credits
  - Starbucks Cap from NomnomClub.com
  - 1 Yummy Book
  - Sponsorship Link 6 months
  - 1 month ad space
- Third Place
  - $5 via Pay Pal
  - 1,500 Ec credits
  - Starbucks Cap from NomnomClub.com
  - 1 Yummy Book
  - Sponsorship Link for 6 months
  - ad space for 1 month

Special Awards
- The Early Bird Prize goes to the first officially verified and completed entry (Based on the main contest requirements)
  - $5 via Pay Pal
  - Pinoy Blogger Shirt
  - Starbucks ID Lace
  - 2 ad spaces for 1 month
- Top Commentator
  - $5 via Pay Pal
  - 1 Starbucks China Demitasse Cup
  - 1 Pinoy Blogger Shirt
  - 1 Yummy Book
  - Sponsorship Link 6 months
  - I year running ads at the blog site
  - 2 ad spaces for 1 month
- High Score!
  - $5 via Pay Pal
  - 1 Pawnacea “Walk in the Park” Kit: a pot of Paw Balm and a bottle of Grooming Spray
  - 1 Globe Tattoo USB stick
  - 1 Starbucks ID lace from NomnomClub.com
  - 1 Dress from the Fab Recessionista
  - 1 GC 60 minute superskin or cosmeceutical facial from VX Facials
  - 2 ad spaces
  - AND MY FAVORITE PRIZE: A Starbucks Tumbler!

Please do drop by here and join!!!

Never over-estimate a quarter-tank full of gas.

2010-05-08T15:09:00.002+08:00

I should listen to my mother more.

She always tells me to NEVER let my gas tank go below the one-fourth line because she says that by doing so, I run the risk of letting the sediment in the gas tank circulate throughout the engine of the car, thus affecting the car's life span. She says that once these problems start up, it can trigger a chain reaction where the gaskets can blow, the timing belt and fan belts get loose and what not. In general, I try to listen. However, since I received a BDO Emerald Rewards card which earns me points if I gas up in a Petron station, I tend to be more careless about it because I keep delaying gassing up until I come across such a station.

Last Sunday, I got in my car and saw that the indicator read a wee bit before the 1/4 mark. I decided that it would be okay enough to drive to the mall where I was supposed to meet my friends and to gas up in the Petron station nearby. Little did I know that there was a massive traffic jam due to the Tears for Fears concert PLUS a campaign rally being held along EDSA. I got held up in traffic for over 3 hours and yes, that 1/4 tank of gas started to run out! I was panicking like all hell!!! I was imagining the worst already because I was stuck in the major thoroughfare with no end in sight! And yes: there were no nearby gas stations!!!

Lesson learned: listen to your mother!!! I guess she was right when she said be cautious about the maintenance of my car or else it could end up like my friends honda accord or her toyota corolla which have gotten old and dilapidated and....well....not even the Humpty Dumpty or car repair companies such as San Francisco auto repair could put them back together again!

Win with this quick and easy contest!!!

2010-04-25T20:32:00.002+08:00

I love joining contests even though I seem to not be Lady Luck's (or should I say Random.Org's)favorite person. I have only won 1 randomized contest ever but that doesn't stop me from trying :-) With that, here's another attempt at beating that curse!!!

I am joining Pinay Mommy Online's Follow Me Philippines Giveaway! Prizes include cash via Pay Pal, banner ads, a Blogging From Home book and one year's domain hosting and .info registration. Joining is so easy...it's the winning that's not! Here's hoping I beat the odds this time!

yapatoots

Finding Options for Grocery Woes

2010-04-25T20:18:00.002+08:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

Today I went to the grocery to stock up on stuff for the house and was appalled by how much my total bill was. It was over P 5,000, which is roughly about $115. I didn't really get much that was different from usual, which made me think why my bill keeps getting higher. When I got home, I checked out my stash and I realized one thing: I tend to be too stuck on the same brand all the time, even when there are other brands, including store brands that are on sale or sold at much lower prices.I think this really just proves to me how I tend to be an unwise consumer. I do admit I get sold by advertisements and good packaging.

As I read through the information from the Recession, Recovery & Store Brands consumer report, I was made aware of how much I can actually save by looking more into store brands. In fact, the report showed that about 49% of consumers felt that store brand products compare quite favorably against branded products. About four out of ten consumers have also shifted to the less expensive store brands such as Parent's Choice instead of continuing patronage to national brands. While some may feel more confidence in the branded product, studies show that store brands also have as good a quality as these products, very much like generic medication and the like. It really just needs more scrutiny and wiser decision making.

Next time I go to the market, I will try to be a better consumer. After all, my money will only go as far as I let it, right?

Summer Swimsuit Giveaway!!!

2010-04-25T19:07:00.000+08:00

I think if you've been reading my blogs for sometime now that you'll know how much I love the beach, right? There's just something about being in the beach that makes me so happy :-) Believe it or not, however, one of my most constant beach companions is my mom. Yup, my mom :-) We love just laying out in the sun and getting a tan. We try to make sure, however, that we are protected with sunblock.

One reason I am joining Pinay Mommy Online's latest contest, the Summer Swimsuit Giveaway is because I want to give my mom a new swimsuit for our next trip. She's the type of person kasi to wear the same swimsuit all the time until she wears it out. I want her to have this suit:

this was my favorite suit from HameGame, a swimsuit online store in the Philippines

I definitely won't fit in to it, but I'm sure she would look good in it!

Summer Math Programs

2010-04-12T21:25:00.001+08:00

In the school I teach in, we have an overflow of students who come in for Reading and Math help during the summer. I think it's their way of trying to make sure their kids are ready for the next school year. However, with the stifling heat and terrible weather we are experiencing, I wish I can just become an Online Tutor! This way I can meet my students without having to leave home.

Given that Math is not my preferred subject, will limit my Free Online Tutoring to other subjects, if it does happen. I definitely wouldn't make much of a Math Tutor, given the fact that I am not a very good Math Problem Solver! However, there are many sites available that are currently offering Online Math Tutor services.

Some parents may have qualms about getting Math Tutors Online, however. Some may be apprehensive about the kind of interaction their kids will get without the face to face interaction of a teacher. Studies show, however, that interactions online are very much like interactions offline. The bonus about online tutoring, however, is that it may end up being more cost-effective and convenient. Hmmm....this is really making me contemplate the idea of taking my teaching online!

See you at the iBlog Summit!

2010-04-12T16:11:00.000+08:00

Time does really fly fast, doesn't it? In the last year, my blog has grown to become BLOGS, my motivations and purposes for blogging have changed, and my perception about online media have definitely broadened. Add to this the fact that because of my blogging activities, I have enriched myself in so many ways.

Just around this time last year, I attended my first ever iBlog convention/summit. I was a newbie blogger then and I didn't have much friends from the blogger community. This Friday, I am looking forward to attending the iBlog 6 which will be held again at the UP Malcolm Theater. This year, I feel more comfortable in my interaction with fellow bloggers and I now have more confidence in sharing my ideas and my blogs with them. I'm really looking forward to what this year's iBlog will bring. Hope to see you then!

Bring the Munk Home!

2010-04-10T21:50:00.001+08:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Alvin and the Chipmunks. All opinions are 100% mine.

When Alvin and the Chipmunks Squeakquel came out, most of my preschoolers started coming to school singing the song "Single Ladies". I remember how cute they looked attempting to dance like the Chipettes and how they would argue who would be the different characters from the show. I then shared to them about how Alvin and the Chipmunks used to be a cartoon and how I loved watching it on VHS. Many of them didn't believe me at first until I fished out an old copy of my Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas album with a picture on the cover! I played the tape and let them listen to the songs Christmas Don't Be Late and the Hula Hoop song.

It's funny how one of my all time favorite cartoons has gone computer generated. On one hand, I love how the new generations are able to get to know these characters the way I did when I was a child, on the other, on the other, I wish they remained cartoons still. Nonetheless, the characters are still much loved and they have taken on a new dynamic. Not only do we get to see them on the big screen, we can even play Alvin and the Chipmunks games. I tried out the game called "Munk Yourself" where you create your own Chipmunk character. It's kind of playing paper dolls, only high tech! Being an online interactive game, you get to mix and match your Chipmunk!

We can all re-live the Chipmunk experience at home! The Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel is now available on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital Download. A double DVD pack is also available which has a bonus disc entitled "The Squeak Along" which I'm sure kids will enjoy singing along to. Perhaps for my next preschool family day program I can even get my kids to do a song number like the Chipettes :-) Click here to buy it now and enjoy More Munk Mayhem!

Yey I Won!!!!

2010-04-09T00:25:00.000+08:00

Contest update: I just read via Google Alerts that I had won second place in the Earthlingorgeous contest! Woot! Thats $25.00 green buckaroos for me!!! It comes just in time as I have to renew my Flickr subscription which costs, you guessed it, $25.00 haha. Well, to be exact, $24.95.

More than winning the prize is the thrill of winning it actually :-) I love joining blog contests because of the thrill I get from it. I dunno why, it just thrills me to bits!!! fun fun fun!!! :-)

Get some Gorgeousness from Earthlingorgeous :-)

2010-03-19T16:38:00.000+08:00

Wanna win $100 and lots of fab prizes? I sure do! I'm glad I finally was able to sit down in front of my computer and work on my entry for Earth's 2nd Blogversary and Thanksgiving Treat!

I first met Earth in person last April 2009 after she had so graciously supported my Autism Awareness project which I had done for my birthday. I remember we met up in Jollibee in Farmer's Market so I could deliver to her the baller bands she pledged for. I met her daughter Tasha too for the first time then. It was because of my search for a project to support for my birthday that I came across her blog and became a regular visitor of it. Her post on being Angels for Autism has been one of the most influential posts for me, hence it's very close to my heart.

Prior to that, she was just an online friend who I admired because of her fun and interesting posts and comments in Plurk, although at times she can be rather controversial! Little did I know that she'd end up as one of the blogger friends I always get to hang out with in various events and someone I can always rely on for support when it comes to blogging.

I always enjoy reading her rants and raves about everything that happens to her, as well as the events she attends. What I'd like to see more of, perhaps, is more of how she deals with, copes and manages life as a mom to Tasha, as well as her continued journey through parenting a child with autism.

The Earthlingorgeous Blogversary and Thanksgiving treat contest is sponsored and supported by the following:

1. Eastwood City
2. Geiser Maclang
3. Ogilvy
4. Avon Philippines
5. Neutrogena
6. 20th Century Fox
7. Strategic Edge Marketing

and also the blogging community, namely:

1. TheStrugglingBlogger.com
2. Jenaisleonline.com
3. Badudets.com
4. Christian Homeschooler.info
5. Pinayads.com
6. Brownpinay.com
7. Online Money Making Experience.com
8. Kevin Ray Chua.com
9. The Accidental Teacher.com
10. Mommy Journey.com
11. Pinaymom.org
12. Newsbreakonline.com
13. LivinglifetodFullest . blogspot.com
14. Fabrecessionista.com
15. Angelic-melody.net
16. Luvspot.net
17. Barbie-doll.co.cc
18. Eleanormordenoaguilar.blogspot.com
19. Morefoodadventures.blogspot.com
20. Darling Aguilar.com
21. MommyDharlz.info
22. Eleanoraguilar.com
23. Honeysweet Learning Center.info
24. Torquoisethespian.blogspot.com
25. Neonila-aperfectworld.blogspot.com
26. Matakaw-Ako.com
27. Travelwithmarie.blogspot.com
28. WordyLiz.com
29. Liezl-read-write.blogspot.com
30. Marriage and Beyond.com
31. KikayCorner.net
32. Fedhz.com
33. Heartrandom.com
34. Pinaymom.org
35. Jay-elx.blogspot.com
36. Mizhelle.blogspot.com
37. Upnowandwhatsnext.blogspot.com
38. Pinaysinglemommy.com
39. Melandriaromeroo.net
40. Bloggingfromhome.com
41. So-magical.co.cc
42. Projectlightning.com
43. 7107reasons.com
44. I Heart Contest.com
45. Oh So Random.info
46. HealthySingleMommy.com
47. Supladita.net
48. Kissmemwah.net
49. Maldita.us
50. SurvivingAutism.net
51. Yapatoots.com
52. Mike Mamaril.com
53. JoeyMd.com
54. Tsinay.com
55. Practicaltipsandmore.com
56. The-Working-Mom.blogspot.com
57. SexyPinayBody.com
58. MyCameraSexy.com
59. ReviewsPehpot.com
60. PinayHome.com
61. Chuchieshideaway
62. PlacesIHaveBeen21.blogspot.com
63. OnADietDaw.blogspot.com

Both the main and the side CONTEST DEADLINE is on MARCH 21, 2010, Sunday!

I care about eye care.

2010-03-18T10:35:00.000+08:00

A former professor of mine used to play a game of forced choices with us. He'd ask us two equally difficult or improbable options to choose from and he'd say that we just had to pick one --- no explanations, no rationalizations, just choose. I used to hate that game, mainly because I don't like making quick choices, except of course when it comes to shopping.

Anyway, a few days ago I read an article about glaucoma which was written by a blogger friend of mine and it got me to thinking about forced choices. If you were to lose one of your five senses, what would it be? I guess up to now I can't really decide and I pray with all my heart I never have to know what that's like but it made me more aware of the importance of eye care because as a blogger and a more visually oriented person, losing my sight is probably the worst thing ever. In her article, Doc Joanna talked about ways to avoid glaucoma and the importance of having yearly checks to be able to prevent or treat possible eye diseases. While I am still relatively young (okay, despite being in my 30's) I will start making sure I have the right eye wear especially since I love being under the sun. As per the article, sun exposure can be a factor in damaging the eyes too. Also, since I'm always in front of the computer, I will make it a point to rest my eyes every hour to avoid damaging them...like I said...I care about eye care!

Summertime is here!!!

2010-03-18T10:25:00.000+08:00

It's official: summer is here!!! Teacher is on break for the next few weeks (until summer classes start, that is) so hopefully I can catch up on blogging and update my too many sites hehe! Much as I love blogging and enjoy writing a lot, my offline work has to take precedence over blogging a lot of times :-( not complaining though. Hopefully in the next few weeks I can learn how to juggle it better so I can have a better work-life-blog balance.

In any case, let me invite you to check out my other blogs:

Teacher Ria's TheAccidentalTeacher.com
My food blog www.onadietdaw.blogspot.com
Ironically, my blog about dieting www.fatgirlnomore.com
and my mixed bag review blog www.yapatoots.com

did I forget anything else?

Moving in New Directions

2010-03-10T15:09:00.000+08:00

It's been almost a year since I explored the world of self-hosted blogging and creating niches for my sites. Since then, I have seen my life go in so many new directions, sometimes it's hard to keep up. I went from being a typical schoolteacher to a pseudo-media practitioner (I call it pseudo because I've only gotten my toes wet in this new direction, I haven't really fully submerged myself in to it), and for the most part, I've loved every minute of it. It goes way beyond the perks of attending events, but I love how by going in this new path, my world has really opened up.

I'd like to think my adventure has also influenced the people I work with in my offline life. Since I've shared about what I do online, my colleagues, for example, have started to recognize the potential of blogging and social media in our clinical practice. Currently, I am trying to figure out how to manage our company site, and being the newbie that I still am, I'm still having difficulty learning the ropes. One thing I am exploring now is a good business web hosting plan, especially since I think that our needs may exceed a personal blogger's needs, but these are all just ideas so far. I still have to orient myself with the terms and codes that still confuse me every now and then!

Bubba's Visit to the Vet

2010-03-10T14:53:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, I was alarmed when my brother called me and said "napilay ata si Bubba" (I think Bubba sprained his foot). I was so worried that I drove home as fast as I could. When I got home, he limped carefully towards the gate (although still as joyously as he usually does!). I saw he was holding up his left paw and couldn't bear much weight on it. He wouldn't let me touch it to check, so I believe it must have been hurting him a lot. I was so worried about him all night and to top it off, there was a brownout for over two and a half hours from 11 pm till about 1:30 am. I had to keep on fanning him because he was so uncomfortable and I could hear him breathing heavily the whole time.

Incidentally, he was really scheduled to go to the vet today for his annual anti-rabies shots. So not only did the vet check his paw, he also got his 7-in-1 vaccinations (against Parvovirus, Canine Distemper, etc.) and heartworm prevention shots updated. I spent P1,600 to get all of this done, and although it was a blow to the pocket, I think the protection it gives him (and people around him) is worth the expense.

Going back to his foot, however, the doctor really couldn't find anything wrong. There's no fracture or visible wounds, so his suspicion is either someone may have stepped on his foot, he could have had the dog door shut on his toe or he could have stepped on something hot while taking his morning walk. I was advised to just keep the area clean and to observe for the meantime.

Thanks so much to all my blogger and plurk friends who offered words of comfort and support to me last night as I worried myself sick over my little Bugoy :-)

I got my Cats Ticket!!!

2010-02-16T21:22:00.001+08:00

I got my ticket for the play Cats! I was really hoping to catch the world renowned Broadway play when it comes to Manila this year. However, tickets were kinda pricey. I had to settle for the cheaper seats but it definitely isn't the best seat in the house. Nonetheless I'm quite excited to see it come August 1. Another show I would really like to catch one day is Cirque de Soleil. It will actually be running from February to May this year at the Beacon Theatre and I know you can get affordable Beacon Theatre Tickets online.

There are also a lot of exciting concerts and events to watch out for. Here in Manila, Paramore will be performing soon at the (if I'm not mistaken) Araneta Coliseum. Tickets are available already and I know there are some promos for free tickets too. Prudential Center Tickets are also available for concerts by Taylor Swift, Daughtry and Alicia Keys.

For sports fans, there are also New York Rangers Tickets available online already. I am not a big sports fan but I'd sure love to see a hockey game or even a football game live. I've only seen the local basketball games and college soccer competitions live and the excitement of being in the actual venue is very different from watching on television.

Fil-Am Finishes 10th in the Winter Olympics!

2010-02-16T21:01:00.000+08:00

I was browsing the results of the Winter Olympics Pairs Figure Skating competition and found a pleasant surprise: one of the skaters in competition is Filipino-American. Amanda Evora has roots from Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. Her father, Vicente "Boy" Evora was a native from there. Amanda was born in New York but had relocated to Bradenton, Florida to be able to pursue figure skating. Amanda and her skating partner, Mark Ladwig, finished tenth in today's pairs skating competition in Vancouver.

Data Cards and Mobile Connections

2010-02-16T19:50:00.001+08:00

Recently, my friend spruced up my HP IPAQ in the hopes that I can make use of the portable pocket PC once again. Ever since I got it a few years back, I never was really able to get how to make the internet connections work. All I'm usually used to is the automatic types that just connect instantly when it finds a signal. One of the tabs in the internet connections options said "data card", which I had no idea what was. So I checked it out on Google and found a blog about data cards and I realized that this is perhaps why I was not able to maximize the internet potentials of my pocket PC.

A data card is something that can be used with notebooks computers for mobile broadband access, like one of those Aircel data cards. I haven't seen any of these cards yet but I would sure like to give it a try, after all, I already have the device. It would be great to actually make it work. These data cards boast good browsing speeds which is better than a dial-up connection, although it's said not to be good enough for streaming media. Nonetheless, for a blogger like me, I think it would serve it's purpose enough.

Valentine's Day Opens Tomorrow!

2010-02-11T21:02:00.000+08:00

Fall in love with the star studded cast of Valentine's Day at a cinema near you starting tomorrow! Valentine's Day is a fun romantic comedy that will surely make you laugh and cry and love every moment of it. While I felt Julia Roberts' role was too small for someone like her, the culmination of her love story was the "awwwww...." moment for me. I enjoyed Anne Hathaway's rowdy love tale as well :-)

Catch all the love in Valentine's Day, brought to you by Warner Bros. Pictures. Opens in theaters February 12, 2010.

Finding Math Solutions Online

2010-02-11T19:44:00.000+08:00

Many of the kids I work with struggle with math. Heck, even I struggled with the same thing all through school. Just this morning, I got word that one of my former students who is a fourth grader now is looking for a tutor to help her with her math problems. Finding a good tutor, especially this late in the school year, is a little difficult because most teachers I know are fully booked already. Whether its for statistics help, Precalculus help or chemistry help, tutors are in big demand.

So I suggested checking out online tutoring services. Online math tutoring can be a good alternative for her problems, especially since she's pretty competent with her studies anyway. She just needs the extra support and someone to check on her math answers for her homework. Also, I think that having this kind of supervision is sufficient enough for this girl's needs.

Perhaps if I were a student of today with the conveniences of modern technology, I would not have struggled as much. Who knows, with enough of this help, I could have graduated with honors instead.

Cinema Peeves

2010-02-11T19:00:00.002+08:00

Watching movies are supposed to be pleasurable experiences, right? Not so long ago, however, as I watched a film in Robinsons Place, I got so frustrated because of two very uncouth and disrespectful girls. For a good part of the movie, one of them was on a cellphone. And take note: she was on loudspeaker. Genius right? If I weren't so far away, I would have told her off. When she wasn't on the phone, she and her companion laughed and talked loudly.

I remember before when I was younger, there were ushers in movie houses right? I was hoping one would show up today and shush those girls up, or better yet, ask them to leave. In general I let those who chit chat during a movie go. I understand that it's almost human nature to do so. But to completely disregard rules of etiquette and consideration? Oh please.

Celebrating 50 Years of Art with the Lopez Museum and Library

2010-02-08T21:24:00.000+08:00

The Philippines has been blessed not only with wonderful natural resources like beaches and tourist destinations but also with an abundance of talented individuals. For fifty years now, the Lopez Museum and Library has housed amazing artworks and Filipiniana treasures such as paintings from National Artists Fernando Amorsolo and Botong Fransisco. This year, the Lopez Museum celebrates 50th anniversary on February 18. In celebration, a series of events and launches are lined up, starting with the Unfolding book launch and opening of Threads exhibit which will be held at the Rockwell Tent.

"Unfolding Half a Century: The Lopez Memorial Museum" is a coffee table book that will surely of great interest to all art lovers out there. Alongside the book launch is the opening of the Threads: The Museum as Site for the Weaving of Tales. Threads is an exhibit that will feature the works of artists Jean Marie Syjuco, Ann Wizer, Myra Beltran, Jef Carnay, Ann Pamintuan, Leo Abaya and Kiri Dalena, each of whom were invited to craft a work or come up with a "cosplay" of a character found in the iconic works in the museum, essentially weaving their own tales based on the museum collection. These pieces will be exhibited at from February 19 to 25 at the Rockwell Power Plant Mall North Court.

Rounding out the Lopez Museum's 50th year celebration is it's anniversary exhibition at the museum premises which is located at the Ortigas Center in Pasig. Entitled After the Fact, the exhibition will feature the works of Gaston Damag, Antipas Delotavo, Imelda Cajipe-Endaya and Keith Sicat, as well as key works from the museum collection.

Just last week I was talking to a friend and I remember saying one thing that is missing in the Philippines is a good venue for the appreciation for the arts. Apparently I was wrong. Sad to say, if not for the Lopez Museum and Library Facebook Page, I wouldn't have been aware of all of these! It's nice to know that our country has such an impressive musuem and library that actually now ranks as one of the finest in Asia. This is definitely something I have to check out soon!

Happy Birthday Bubba!

2010-02-06T21:03:00.001+08:00

Happy Birthday, Bubba

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Bubba!

My little boy is 5 today :-) okay...he's not a little boy anymore. Its amazing how quickly time flies and he's grown so much. Just see the changes!

Quick and Easy Photo Effects!

2010-02-05T19:56:00.001+08:00

I am so jealous of my friend Janine's photoshopping skills. Try as I might, I can never get what she does! All I can manage to do is adjust lighting and brightness, but to do fun photoshop effects like making it seem that you are in another place or even better, in a drawing or big screen, is an impossibility for me. Much as I try, I can't seem to master the fine art of photo shop! Well, to be fair, I think if I really tried hard enough, I'd get it, but I don't really have the time or patience to do so.

Good thing I came across an online funny photo effects site which allows me to upload photos and in an instant, my photos are transformed! Take a look at these:

thanks Iris for the nice photo that I was able to transform!

I picked these effects because I always liked sketches but I'm too shy to pose for a portrait.Through this online program, I have what I wanted :-) There are lots of other funny pictures effects available, such as making your photo a tattoo, appear next to a white tiger, in a Rubik's cube and lots more. In fact, new effects are added daily.

Beat that Photoshop! Granted that I am limited to the uploaded effects, the fact that there are so many effects to choose from definitely trumps that. Plus all the time I get to save from editing a photo over and over to get an effect that I want is a big bonus!

Here's another one I liked a lot!

This is a nice treatment for one of my very favorite photos. I love how the sepia tones bring an old feeling to the photo. I used the same effect for other photos but this ended up being the best. Why don't you give it a try too? Take my word for it: trying out these effects can be addicting!

Apple's Baaaack!!!!

2010-02-05T19:23:00.000+08:00

After suffering through months of the wheel of death, I finally sent off Apple to a good friend who suggested that reformatting her would at least help with her spinning condition. True enough, Apple's back to normal. Even better I must say....she got a RAM upgrade too! Imagine, she was running at 512mb...no wonder! And I was ragging on those little Asus lappies that only used to have 1gb. mwahahaha! Oops, my bad!!!

Give Your Skin Some Flavor!

2010-01-30T20:23:00.002+08:00

One of the things I noticed when I first lost weight (which unfortunately I've gained back since then!) is how I loose my skin had gotten, especially around the triceps area. Now that I'm getting older, I have also began to feel that my skin is not as firm and supple as it used to be. I've tried a myriad of firming lotions that promised results but I've always hated the feel of lotion especially in our hot weather so when I came across a toning soap that can help tone and tighten skin, I gave it a try.

I've been using this organic seaweed soap (seaweed and molasses with tea tree organic body bar to be exact) for about a week now. I like the somewhat minty smell the soap has and I was quite surprised at how easy it is to get the soap to lather. My previous experiences with organic soaps were quite different. Also, the bar remains firm up to now, unlike in the past where if I hold it too tight, the soap kind of gets squished. The first night I used it, I felt like my skin was a little bit too tight and itchy, especially in my legs, but upon looking at it, I saw that the old dead skin cells from my recent beach trip had started to fall out. Because the seaweed and molasses exfoliates the dead skin cells, I had started to (for lack of a better word!) shed off the dried and sunburnt skin. The next morning, I used the soap again and it felt nice. The minty smell, I guess coming from the tea tree oil and organic essences, made me feel refreshed. I also felt like my skin was scrubbed clean without the over-dried feeling I get from some harsher soaps. I have also read that tea tree oil acts as a cleanser and astringent. Perhaps this can also be a good anti-pimple soap because of that. I've been having break-outs recently due to hormones that are acting up so I guess I can see if this will be effective.

Body Flavors Enterprises is the brainchild of founder and CEO Azenith C. Badana who is, like me, a beach lover. She also is an advocate for Mother Nature, thus her desire to come up with products that are eco-friendly. Her soaps are purely organic, 100% natural and safe on the skin. It is based on VCO or Virgin Coconut Oil which has a lot of very good anti-aging qualities, plus it is truly very Pinoy. The soaps come in different variants so you can definitely give your skin the flavor it deserves.

Body Flavors Seaweed and Molasses Organic Body Bar retails for Php 100.00. See more Body Flavors here: http://bodyflavors.smilds.com. Body Flavors is also available at the Health Buff Wellness Shop, Unit 212 (2nd level) Doña Anita Building, E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City (across St. Luke's Medical Center/ Burger King).

Only in the Philippines.

2010-01-30T19:53:00.000+08:00

Every day as I drive home, I see countless campaign streamers from those promising change to those that claim they have a solution to the ills of our nation. However, every time I see these ads, I think to myself, only in the Philippines.

It still baffles me how our political system works. Okay, granted I am not one who really gets deeply ingrained in the system, but I still find it amazing how people in power can stay in power almost forever. It's interesting to see how even those convicted of crimes are able to still be part of the political system. What's sad about our political system, I think, is that despite the fact that many want to make a difference, the deeply rooted problems of graft and corruption are still overpowering.

At the end of the day, I guess the one thing I can do in hopefully making a change is by empowering myself and arming myself with information, especially now that the elections are coming up. I haven't really made a solid decision as to who to support and why I would support them, but for now, I will explore the options and make sure I don't make my vote go to waste.

Homeowner Dreams and No More Rental Wishes.

2010-01-21T19:09:00.000+08:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Coldwell Banker. All opinions are 100% mine.

If there is one dream that is true to most people, it's the dream of owning your own home. It goes beyond just the quintessential American dream. When you own place of your own, it gives you more than just a house to live in, but for all intents and purposes, a HOME. For many Filipinos, whether here or abroad, owning a home can be an elusive dream. While we may have loans available such as that with Pag-ibig, or the government run housing loan system, the costs can be way beyond what a typical family makes. Unlike in the US, especially nowadays, there are a lot of incentives to purchasing a home now. In fact, applying for the 2010 Homebuyer Tax Credits has been extended until April 30, 2010. This would be valid so long as the closing date of the contract is on or before June 30, 2010.

This gives potential homeowners, even first time buyers, an opportunity to receive up to $8,000 in tax credits. Learn more by browsing through the Coldwell Banker website. As an added bonus, looking for a home is made even more accessible as you can start looking for your dream home right. Through this tax credit deal, more people can not only make the most of their hard earned buck, but they can make their homeowner dreams and no more rental wishes come true!

The Benefits of a Foreign Education.

2010-01-21T18:37:00.002+08:00

I never really gave studying abroad much thought before. To be honest, even my application for graduate school was not given much thought in the beginning. I actually enrolled on a whim. At the end of the day, I realize it was a great spur of the moment decision. It has made a big difference in my life and how things have fallen into place for me. If I were to do it over, I probably would have thought more about my decision and considered the many options out there for those who want further education. Perhaps, I would have considered going abroad to study.

Last night, I was invited to an event hosted by the British Council that highlighted many education opportunities for Filipinos in the UK. During the dinner, we heard from two Filipinos, both of whom were granted scholarships by the British Council to schools in the UK, such as the London School of Economics. Both students stressed one thing about their British education: more than just being "taught", they learned. They learned to ask the right questions, they learned to think and they learned to live life more fully. From their perspectives, I got to see how getting a foreign education can really broaden one's way of thinking and open one's eyes to a world beyond just imagination.

Getting an education in the UK is easier than one would think. As part of the British Council's GO: Know More, Do More, Live More campaign, a series of Education UK events will be held across the metro where anyone can come by and find out how they can pursue higher education in the fields of Technology, Beauty and Fashion, and Business and Entrepreneurship. Interesting courses include a masters degree in F1 Engineering, clay pottery, and Women's Wear. If I'm not mistaken, even the kapamilya star Angel Locsin enrolled in a short course in one of UK's prestigious schools.

Admission to all the Education UK events are free.

Education UK events will be held on the following dates at the following venues:
Alumni Counselling Session, January 29, 2010 at the Makati Shangri-la
Funding Options Seminar, February 19, 2010 at the Top Shelf of Fully Booked, Bonifacio High Street
Education UK Exhibition, March 5-6, 2010 at the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel

It's A Boy...and a Girl!

2010-01-19T23:38:00.000+08:00

I got the most exciting news from one of my best friend Kai.....she and her hubby are finally expecting! And yes...they're having twins!!! I am so happy for her, the only downside to her whole pregnancy and upcoming motherhood is the fact that she is doing it all the way in Florida. Hopefully I get to see more than just pictures of the babies when they come. Unlike most best friends, Kai and I can't go shopping for baby stuff together because of the fact that we live so far apart. However, we get to browse online and check out stuff she would need for their arrival. I definitely would not be around for her baby shower, but if I were, I would probably get her the strollers she would need for the babies as a baby shower gift. I like the fact that this would be a gift that grows along with the kids as they could use this for at least the first year of their lives right?

But again, given our limitations, we just exchange links and communicate online as much as we can. In as much as I can, I try to help her out with researching about products, techniques, and the like that would really help make welcoming the twins easier for her. Since she and her hubby are quite active people, I suggested to her she check out those double strollers that are designed for jogging or running. I honestly would never have thought of that on my own, but as I browsed a websites of strollers I came across how these strollers are designed for the fitness conscious parent. Not only is the stroller streamlined and designed to accommodate the parents, it also has a suspension system that acts like a shock absorber so that the babies are snug and comfy. Cool huh? And all this time all I really thought of was the importance of choosing good umbrella strollers, especially since we all know the importance of protecting our skin from the sun's harmful rays. While she may not need the stroller right away, I guess it wouldn't hurt to canvass for the best option as early as now right?

I ♥ Studio 23 FUSE!

2010-01-18T20:57:00.000+08:00

Random, I know, but it has to be said: I LOVE STUDIO 23's Fresh US Episodes!!! I particularly love the fact that I don't have to wait so long to be able to watch Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice episodes. It's a few weeks delayed from the US airdate (approximately two weeks give or take) but compared to before where it would be MONTHS before I could catch an episode, this is fabulous! Wala lang, yun lang!

Needing a Good Nights Sleep.

2010-01-18T20:49:00.000+08:00

It's been a long time since I've really had a good nights sleep. I do get rested at night, but getting that fully charged feeling after a deep slumber has been quite elusive. My suspicion is that I am unconsciously unable to rest because of the state of my room....it's too crowded. To be fair, I have a big room. In fact, some studio apartments may even be smaller than my room but I have a problem with keeping things neat, and I think this affects the quality of my rest. I do think there is a strong mind-body connection so perhaps, the negative energy in the room because of the clutter is crowding my psyche.

Before the year ended, I started cleaning up and letting go of old things. I now am at the point of contemplating renovating the room and perhaps replacing the furniture to something that is more sleek and chic. One thing I really would love to get is one of those contemporary bedroom sets because since my sister left and I fell in love with my Bubba, I have moved my bed to the floor so I could sleep beside him. I'd like a set that comes in a fabulously amazing color scheme complete with side tables, bed ruffles, a comforter...the whole shebang! I think I have not given my bed enough importance, as seen by the ordinary sheets I throw on it, perhaps that's also that contributes to the unrest. Add to that the fact that I have gained a lot of weight and I'm not getting any younger either, so getting down to the floor has been quite a strain on my back. I hope I get to attend to this soon as I really, desperately need a good nights sleep. SOON!

When Does Parenting Go Wrong?

2010-01-18T20:27:00.000+08:00

On the way home from work today, I heard a comment on the radio that irked me. It said something in reference to why Jason Ivler, the wanted fugitive who was arrested this morning, became the way he is today. The comment went on to say that he became the criminal he is because he came from a dysfunctional family and he grew up with a step-dad. No doubt coming from a family filled with tension, conflict and was dysfunctional does have an impact on one's mental health, but that comment made me angry. Why? Because there are so many of us who come from dysfunctional and broken families but we are not criminals.

I feel that sometimes, parents are unfairly blamed for the way their kids turn out. But then, I am not a parent, so what would I know, right? I just feel that poor parenting is only one component of who we become. In my studies in Psychology I have grown to understand theories of child and personality development and I do not discount the gravity of a parents role in child rearing. The question begs to be asked, though, when does parenting go wrong?

Virally Spreading the Silver Lining.

2010-01-17T15:50:00.001+08:00

It took me quite some time to decide whether or not I would pursue a Project 365 this year because after attempting it and failing miserably last year, I thought to myself why set myself up for the hassle. However, after some time, I came up with an inspiring idea (well, I find it inspiring, hopefully someone out there will agree!) that made me decide to finally take the plunge and do my 2010 Project 365.

The next question I grappled with was where would I put this project this time? And then I remembered Yahoo! Meme.

Sometime ago a group of my friends were talking and microblogging about this but I didn't pay much attention to it because I had no idea what it was about but during the Blog4Reviews Christmas party, Yahoo! country community manager for the Philippines Jonas De Los Reyes gave a presentation about Yahoo! Meme. He talked about how the site can be a quick and easy way to share ideas, photos, videos, audio clips, music and the like. As he defined it during the presentation, it is a postulated unit or element of cultural ideas, symbols and practices and is transmitted from one mind to another through speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena. Through the Meme, these are all easily re-blogged thus making for quick viral sharing.Prononuced as "mim", it is in many ways, a reflection of what is going on in the community.

photo credit: Az of azraelcoladilla.com

With that, my Project 365 found a home. I like the fact that not only am I adding content to a site, but that in my own small way, I can hopefully help others become more optimistic and hopeful this 2010. As my Yahoo! Meme title goes: 365 of 2010.....finding the silver lining in every day, one photo at a time. While this may be a Project 365, I have already accepted the fact that I cannot manage to upload photos daily, no matter how easy it is to do it via the Yahoo! Meme. Nonetheless, I take the photos daily and upload it when able. Granted that that is not the "right" way the project should be done, I will do it that way! This is what my meme looks like as of now:

Through my meme's content, I can remind people that in whatever situation, there always is a silver lining that we can hold on to, no matter how bad things can get. Do follow me at Yahoo! Meme. As always, just look for yapatoots!

Take Me to the Movies.

2010-01-17T14:31:00.003+08:00

In the last year, I rediscovered my love for movies. For a long time, I was more into television series' rather than movies because I liked the continuity of a storyline and the attachment I built with the characters of the show, such as Meredith Grey of Grey's Anatomy, Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City, Chuck Bass of Gossip Girl and Addison Montgomery of Private Practice to name a few. However, thanks to the movie bloggers and media outfits like Warner Bros. Pictures, I rediscovered the cinema. It started surreptitiously...an invitation as a blogger friends' guest to the screening of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. From then on, I was hooked! So much so that I set a goal to watch at least 30 movies in any cinema for 2009. However, I failed to meet that! I only was able to watch a total of 24! Not only was I too busy, there were a few movies that didn't really peak my interest too much. However, after watching The Spy Next Door last week, I realized I shouldn't be too stuck on a particular genre because I may just be surprised. That film was indeed an unexpected and pleasant surprise because I initially had dismissed it as corny, but I was dead wrong!

This 2010, I am looking forward to more movies. Hopefully I get to hit the mark of 30 this year. I am optimistic about this because the line up of upcoming films is simply amazing but also because of last years' experience that has widened my appreciation for the big screen a lot. So far for 2010 I have seen 3 movies: the local hit I Love You, Goodbye, the eye-catching and action packed Sherlock Holmes, and the hilarious The Spy Next Door. Other films I am surely looking forward to are the following:

Sex and The City 2!!!! As the teaser goes (I saw the trailer during the screening of Sherlock Holmes), this 2010, "Get Carried Away". I loved the series, I loved the first movie and I am sure I will love this too!!!

The Blind Side starring Sandra Bullock. If I'm not mistaken, Sandra Bullock was nominated for this film. As far as I know, too, the movie has gotten rave reviews.

Where the Wild Things Are. Based on the classic children's book of the same title, I am curious as to see how this translates to film. Honestly, though, I never got the story hehehe.

Being a big Morgan Freeman fan, Invictus is something I am looking forward too. There's something about him that really captivates me and I have yet to find a Morgan Freeman film that I have not found one I did not enjoy.

and lest I forget, the romantic comedy Valentines Day for the non-Valentine girl in me!!!

There's also Harry Potter 7, Clash of the Titans, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs....so many movies to see! So...take me to the movies?

photos all courtesy and copyright of Warner Bros. Pictures.

Dreaming a Little Dream For Me

2010-01-17T12:46:00.003+08:00

Sometimes I wish I had a more flexible work schedule, one that would allow me to go on extended vacations. Don't get me wrong: I do love my teaching jobs immensely but every now and then, I wish I could be like some of those people who get to spend long periods of time in various places. Take for example Elizabeth Gilbert, the renowned author of the New York Times Bestseller Eat, Pay, Love. I would love to have the opportunity to take a year off from the everyday routine of work to take some "me" time while working on a novel (yes, my not-so-secret dream is to write a book someday!) and yet not have to worry about where money is going to come from or how I can live a normal life while away from my homeland. I wouldn't like to live as a tourist for extended periods of time after all. If I could do what she did in that year of traveling and discovery to the three lands of "I" (Indonesia, Italy and India), I'd try to find a place to live and move around the city without having to rely on hotels and the like for long. As long as the funding is around, I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find a short-term lease for an apartment or a room somewhere, as well as finding transportation around the city. I'd like to think that the internet would be a great tool in managing these. Car Rental Comparison, apartment hunting and other short-term leases can be explored and planned out before booking a flight to wherever you go right? Maybe someday this dream can be more than just a dream for me.

Great Laughs with The Spy Next Door

2010-01-17T12:11:00.000+08:00

To be honest, I was not all hell-bent on watching the flick The Spy Next Door starring Jackie Chan in the beginning. Why? I never liked Jackie Chan movies!!! I always felt that his movies were on the brink of corny. However, after being invited to catch a special screening of the film last Thursday, January 14 at SM Megamall, all my perceptions about Jackie Chan changed! He was HILARIOUS! I loved this movie. It had a good mix of comedy, family drama and action all rolled into one.

The story revolves around secret agent Bob Ho as he contemplates giving up his high-action spy life to settle down with his girlfriend Gillian (played by Amber Valletta). This decision apparently brings Bob's biggest challenge: getting Gillian's three kids to welcome him into the fold. However, chaos ensues when Russian terrorists discover that one of the kids inadvertently downloads a formula for their newest weapon.

What I liked best about the film is the impeccable timing of comedy, not just on the part of Jackie Chan, but also that of the characters of the three kids. It was a great way to end the work week for sure!

Directed by Brian Levant and released here in Manila by Viva International Pictures. Catch The Spy Next Door in theaters nationwide starting January 15, 2009.

Much thanks to Viva International Pictures through the coordination of Az Colladilla for the Bloggers invitation to the special screening!

Calcu-what?!?

2010-01-15T20:57:00.001+08:00

Being a teacher, I often get requests for various tutorial services, especially from parents of my former preschool students. When they were younger and still in grade school, I gladly helped them out with their homeworks and reviewing for examinations. Math homework, however, was always a challenge. I remember how one time I really drew a blank when working with one of my middleschoolers' math assignments. And yes, we were just dealing with fractions. So now that one of my first ever students is almost graduating from high school, I had to finally admit that I can no longer help her with her studies. Solve calculus, advanced algebra and geometry? Me? Hah!

While the family is trying to find a suitable Calculus tutor and a replacement for me, I suggested she try finding free math tutoring online so she can cope up with her lessons, especially since we are late into the school year already. Finding Calculus help and free math tutoring is now just a click away after all. As I was telling my student, she's lucky she lives in a highly technological day and age where finding free math homework help is so much easier.

Happy Birthday Mariel!

2010-01-15T20:12:00.000+08:00

One of my really good friends Mariel celebrates her birthday to day and I want to wish her all the best this year. I am thankful to have her as a friend and a kumare as I am her eldest daughter Denise's ninang or godmother. She has taught me a lot of things about life...about how to be grateful and to not sweat the small stuff. We may not see each other often and we don't get together as much as I'd like to, but our friendship I believe goes beyond that.

I am especially thankful this year for her support in my new venture...baking. Well, to be honest it isn't really a new venture as I have been baking for the holidays with my cousin for more than six years now but this year, I am hoping to widen my product base. This is our first order!

Workless Wednesdays.

2010-01-11T22:10:00.003+08:00

Starting this week, I am officially jobless on Wednesdays. Well, to be fair, I do not consider my preschool class as "work" because it's definitely more of my passion compared to something I do for a living. Sure it helps augment my income, but it's all relative to me. So since I need to find a way to finance my luho's or extravagances. So I decided to check the Classified Ads. Initially I thought about going to the news stand and getting a copy of the Manila Bulletin or one of those papers that list not only corporate jobs but even more service oriented type of jobs. Then it hit me: why not go online?

As I browsed the site, I noticed a lot of ads by teachers and private tutors. I think that could be something I can explore. Lessons are definitely up my sleeve, after all, I do teach preschool and college, right? Other than tutorials, I can even teach cooking, arts and crafts or creative writing for kids. However, as I scrolled down futher, something caught my eye: How to Start and Operate a Bakery.

click to enlarge

As many of my blogger friends know, I've have a home-based baking business. Perhaps since I am workless on Wednesdays, I can do this on the side. What do you think? Unfortunately, the seminar is scheduled for Saturday, January 16 and I am not available to attend this. Maybe some other time!

While I initially aimed to browse only job opportunities on the OLX Classified Ads, I couldn't help but unleash the inner shopaholic in me. Ooooohhhh.....Games, gadgets and toys galore! The upside to shopping online is that I think twice before purchasing something, as compared to in reality where I find myself in the checkout counter before I know it. To be fair, shopping online is also very easy because most sellers allow for PayPal, Bank Deposit and similar payment methods.

It's in the Small Details: A Sherlock Holmes Movie Review

2010-01-06T19:50:00.000+08:00

It's the small details that tell the whole story, says Sherlock Holmes.

Okay, admittedly, I am not one for the small details. In fact, much as I try to recall, I can't remember what it is exactly Sherlock Holmes (played by Robert Downey , Jr.) but in essence, he tells Mary Morstan (played by Kelly Reilly), the love interest of his long-time partner and sidekick Dr. John Watson (played by Jude Law) that the small details are the most telling.

As a child, I loved reading Nancy Drew and Bobbsey Twins stories. However, I never was quick enough to pick up on the clues of these stories. Suffice it to say, I never really ventured into reading the Sherlock Holmes novels or short stories created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Being the lazy reader I am, I was so glad to have gotten the chance to reknowned character brought to life in a film by Guy Richie.

The story takes the viewer to old-town London as Holmes and Watson try to solve the mystery of Lord Blackwood (played by Mark Strong) and his devious plot to destroy England. The duo take on the streets of London looking for clues to stop this from happening. Add to the mix "the woman", the only woman to impress Holmes in his stories, Irene Adler (played by Rachel McAdams). Her presence, as well as Watson's pending engagement, brings Holmes into a quandry emotionally.

I loved how the cinematography and scenery really took me back to what that era must really be like. From the costumes to the cobblestones of London's streets, the carriages and the tunnels and canals, I really felt like I was taken back to that time period. However, it seemed to me that there was still so much of the story left out, mainly because I am not a big Holmes/Doyle fan (as I said, I never really sat down to read the stories!), thus I really had no background about the characters and the prevalent storyline. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the film a lot, especially as I saw how all the little details and a bit of chemistry tied the story up well in the end.

Watching the Sherlock Holmes press screening last night with many of my blogger friends was indeed a great way to kick off 2010! I hope this year I really get to meet my goal of seeing 30 movies. I missed it by 6 last year!

Many thanks to our friends at Warner Bros. Pictures for the invitation :-)

Sherlock Holmes opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, January 8, 2010.

Living on A Budget

2010-01-04T12:54:00.000+08:00

If there's one thing I suck at, it's math. Ergo, because I'm bad at math, my plans of living on a budget always fail. Okay, okay, I know I'm making excuses here!!! Seriously though, this 2010 I have to work on this aspect of my life better, after all, I'm not getting any younger!

One thing I always make sure I have planned out in my budget though are the insurance premiums I have to pay every quarter or year. Besides my auto insurance, I am also on the final leg of my life insurance policy payments. This year I'm contemplating upping my car insurance to include the "acts of God" clause, especially after the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy. I have a couple of weeks to decide, as my present plan expires mid-February. In the meantime, I'm doing some research and reading about what the benefits of each company or plan may be. It's kind of difficult to decide because each has it's own pros and cons. I even read about Temporary Insurance and short-term plans that are available. I guess what I should do first is to list down my needs and use this to determine what plan works out best for me.

My Grown Up Christmas List

2010-01-03T20:18:00.001+08:00

One of my favorite Christmas songs is My Grown Up Christmas List. From it's haunting melody to it's beautiful words, this song serves as an inspiration for me. Over the past holidays, I have had a lot to time to reflect on the year that was and the road that lies ahead. It got me to thinking about what it is I would wish for if I made my own grown up Christmas List.

When I first started thinking of wish lists, it was because of a giveaway I read about at NomNomClub.com, but the more I thought of it, the song kept playing in my head so I knew this was what my wish list would be all about

Borrowing the melody and part of the lyrics, here is what I would wish for:

Do you remember me
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies

Well, I'm all grown up now
And still need help somehow
I'm not a child
But my heart still can dream

So here's my lifelong wish
My grown up christmas list
Not for myself
But for a world in need

No more CHILD LEFT BEHIND
That ALL WOULD HAVE A CHANCE
TO MAKE A BRAND NEW START
And everyone would PLAY IT FAIR
And JUSTICE WOULD PREVAIL
And LOVE FOR THE EARTH WILL NOT END,
This is my grown up Christmas list

I know the things on my wish list may be impossible to meet, but I still believe that if we all cared enough, SOMETHING CAN BE DONE.

While I was in Boracay over the holidays, it kind of saddened me when I saw rows of Aklanon natives begging for food and money as we tourists enjoyed ourselves in the island paradise. Two of the kids even begged my mom for some of the food on her plate while in the buffet line. These children are left behind by society: they will be uneducated, unfed and uncared for unless we try to do something. On the upside, I think some companies in the island are helping them by providing opportunities for these families to make a brand new start, which is my second wish. For example, the Greek Taverna Cyma in Boracay is holding a special dinner on January 24 when part of the proceeds will benefit the natives of the island. Another shoe company is doing the same thing. For my part, I will make it a point to get more involved in advocacies this 2010 which will benefit the underserved populations in our country.

One of the biggest problems in our country is that people just don't play fair. On the road, for example, people try to get ahead by cutting in front of others, all for a few measly minutes. If we all played fair, traffic would be so much less. In the same way, if we just play fair, things would be so much nicer!

In the same breath, I wish that justice would really become a reality. Take for example the Ampatuan case and the Maguindanao massacre. If we don't become vigilant and do something about it, it could just be that justice will yet be another elusive dream.

Lastly, and perhaps the most attainable of all of my wishes, is that we all will not stop loving our earth. We have seen the onslaught of Mother Nature last 2009. Her fury was felt by millions and unless we start making changes, we will continue down the destructive path till the world as we know it would be so different. We can make little changes in our own ways everyday...be it by bringing your own baon to work or school to becoming a more responsible steward by refusing plastic and recycling.

So these are my wishes...truly very different from the childhood dreams I had whispered under my breath and written to Santa about. This is my own grown up Christmas list.

The Saenz Family Exchange Gift

2009-12-25T19:11:00.000+08:00

Today was a blast. I woke up early to do some last minute baking before Christmas lunch then the family got together for our usual feast and gift giving. It was funny how a lot of us ended up giving each other almost the exact same thing: pillows. There were microbead-filled pillows, foam ones, and those feather-filled ones as well. If we were to put all our beds next to each other, we would end up covered in an avalanche of new pillows and comforters almost all of which had similar designs! What I liked best, however, were the wedge memory foam pillows. It would be perfect both in in bed or in a computer chair. I, unfortunately, was not on the receiving end of one of these memory foam pillows. If I had one, I'd use it to elevate my legs at night when I go to bed. I've noticed lately that my varicose veins have gotten so bad, probably more due to the fact that I'm carrying around so much extra weight rather than due to the shoes I wear. In any case, I think the family had a similar thought for the year: we all need some rest. It has indeed been a very trying year for all of us and a good nights sleep will definitely do us all a world of good.

Ang Aming Perstaym (Our First Time)

2009-12-24T15:06:00.000+08:00

Hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan ang aming perstaym. O....baka kung ano naman naiisip niyo ha! Ang ibig ko sabihin ay hindi ko makakalimutan ang perstaym namin ng minamahal kong Bubba mag road trip papuntang Laiya, Batangas. Pumunta kami sa Balai sa Laiya, isa sa pinakatahimik at magandang lugar na napuntahan ko na malapit lapit dito sa Maynila. Mga dalawang oras lang mula sa siyudad, makikita mo na ang malinaw na tubig at puting buhangin.

Unang beses namin ni Bubba magbakasyon magkasama. Madalas kasi ang mga resort at lugar dito sa Pilipinas ay hindi pumapayag na magdala ng alagang hayop. Laking tuwa ko nung nalaman ko na sa Balai, buong puso silang pumayag na magsama ako ng alaga. Naging masayang masaya ang aming bakasyon ni Bubba, subalit paguwi namin, nalaman ko na nagkasugat-sugat pala ang paa niya dahil sa pag lakad sa buhangin at pag akyat sa mga bato doon sa Laiya. Tinakbo ko tuloy siya sa doktor paguwi namin dahil ang taas taas ng lagnat niya dahil nagkaimpeksyon yung mga sugat niya. Naging learning experience naman para sa amin yun dahil sa sunod naming punta doon, naging handa kami at pinasoot ko na siya ng sapatos na pang aso.

Natuwa ako sa perstaym na pa-kontest ng kaibigan kong si Ohmski at ito ang aking lahok sa sinabing kontest. Dahil sa kaniya, nasariwa ko tuloy ang alaala ng isa sa pinakamasayang bakasyon ko. Perstaym ko din magsulat ng akda dito sa blog na ito na Tagalog. Sana pagsapit ng hatinggabi mamaya, ako rin ang perstaym na mananalo sa pakontest ni Ohms!

I will never forget our first time....whooops...stop for a minute: it's not what you think. What I mean here is that I will never forget the first time my beloved Bubba and I took a road trip to Laiya, Batangas. We went to Balai sa Laiya, one of the quietest and most beautiful places I have been to so close to Manila. In only two hours away from the city, you will be greeted with crystal clear water and white sands.

It was our first vacation together, Bubba and I. More often than not, resorts in the Philippines do not allow guests to bring their pets so when I found out Balai welcomed animals to their sanctuary, I was overjoyed. We had a blast on our vacation. However, I did not know that Bubba had cut up his feet walking down the beach and climbing the rocks so when we got home, I had to rush him to the vet because he was sporting a high fever due to his infected wounds. To be fair, it became a good learning experience for us because the next time we went back to Laiya, I made him wear some dog shoes so he no longer got hurt.

I was glad to hear about my friend Ohmski's first ever contest. This is my entry to said contest. Because of him, I was able to relive one of my fondest vacations ever.

The Gift of Discipline

2009-12-24T14:27:00.000+08:00

My mom was not a very strict towards me and my sister when we were groing up. She was not lax either. For me, she had a good balance between disciplining me and allowing me to explore life and make my own mistakes. Along the way, she made mistakes herself, but I think because she dared to discipline us the way she knew best, my sister and I grew up to be good people.

Nowadays parents have so new concerns to deal with, such as parenting in a technological world. To help the many parents and teachers of todays generation, one of my good friends, Jenny of Marriage and Beyond is hosting a contest and up for grabs is the The New Dare to Discipline Book by James Dobson. I hope I win this book. Even though I am not a parent yet, teaching both preschool and college kids have increasingly become a challenge in the last few years. Hopefully this can help me. Oh, plus the fact that the prize comes with Php 500 worth of Starbucks GC's makes it extra desirable for the Starbucks collector in me!

Dreaming of My Beach Vacation

2009-12-22T21:29:00.000+08:00

9 days to go and I'll finally be off to the beach!!! I can barely wait. It's been a long and tiring three weeks of working overtime so this break is definitely going to do me a lot of good. In anticipation, I've been searching for different beaches and ocean front vacation spots. One that caught my eye is the Oceanfront Myrtle Beach Hotel and Oceanfront Myrtle Beach Resort. What a beautiful sight! I have always dreamed of going to see the south and this would be a perfect spot for me!

I am more of a beach person rather than a mountain girl so going to a place like the Oceanfront Myrtle Beach Resorts would definitely be a dream vacation for me. I love lounging under the sun and feeling the sand between my toes. The gentle sounds of the waves crashing into shore is by far the sweetest and most relaxing sound for me.

Although I may only be going to Boracay, a local beach in the Philippines in the next few weeks, I sure will be dreaming about the Oceanfront Myrtle Beach Hotels tonight.

When In Manila

2009-12-22T21:05:00.000+08:00

As the saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Change that to Manila: When in Manila, do as the Manila folk do! I first met Vince Golangco when I attended a surfing event organized by one of my favorite blogger friends, Jonel of LetsGoSago.net. He shared his idea for a new blog/vlog site where he would feature what to do when in Manila.

It was nice to see the idea he discussed come into fruition. His site is filled with hilarious sketches and videos about current events in the city. He also features a lot of places to eat and things to see in the country. If you're looking for a fun read, or should I say view, go check out WhenInManila.com . If there was something that could make the site better, however, I would say it would be adding a mobile plug-in so the site loads quickly and with less hassle via mobile, especially since I more often than not browse via my Nokia E63.

Remembering What Christmas Is All About.

2009-12-17T23:34:00.005+08:00

I just returned home from one of the most enjoyable Christmas parties I have attended in a long time. It was a lot of fun bonding with friends and colleagues from the online community! On the way home, however, I was reminded of how much I have taken for granted what Christmas really is. During the party I sat with very dear friends Jennie and her hubby, Jeff, who is a pastor and we talked a bit about what church I go to and all that. It got me to thinking more about the true meaning of one of the most special Christian holidays and how the season really is about the Jesus birth.

Behind the revelry, I started to feel a little guilty because I have been neglecting going to church and reading my Bible regularly. I never was also one to attend Bible Studies or Cell Groups much because I have always been quite a shy person. However, one day I came across a site that talked about online Bible study and I got to thinking, maybe this is something I can do. This can be a way for me to hear more about the word of God and continue to grow spiritually, especially since I tend to just am reminded to go to church on Christmas and Easter to commemorate the birth of Christ and Jesus resurrection.

This Christmas I will take pause and remind myself of the spirit of Christmas. Not the gift-giving kind, but what it really is. Hopefully in 2010, I will find myself going back to church more regularly.

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-16T22:11:00.000+08:00

With less than 10 days to go before Christmas, we finally figured out how to make a good buttercream frosting that doesn't melt!!! I love my cute little cupcakes!!!

Read more about our yummy goodies in my food blog, OnADietDaw.blogspot.com

I Gloo, Do You?

2009-12-16T22:06:00.004+08:00

When I fist heard of Gloo, I thought to myself: oh no, not another social network. However, as I watched the video explaining what it was all about, I saw it's unique potential. Unlike social networking sites, it's not simply your personal space where you can update your status or inform people what you are doing, Gloo is a collaborative workspace where you and your friends can interact in real-time. It's kind of like an online desk that allows you and people who have access to that space to meet and discuss ideas. The closest thing I can compare it to would be a conference chat, but more fun since you can draw, embed videos and photos, and create lists and posties to remind you of what is going on.

I tried it out for a few days and I enjoyed leaving little messages in my friends spaces and doodling on their sites as well...but I accidentally removed a picture that was in someone else's space!!! Sorry hehehehe! I have also been able to keep myself abreast with plans about parties and events that I will be attending.

My cousin and I even tried it out for our pastry business. We used the Gloo board as a venue for coordinating our plans and things to do for the business, Baby Cakes. We posted our goals for the year and two stickies where we can leave reminders for each other.

As a teacher, I see this as a tool that I can use to make discussions take on a new perspective. I can forsee myself using it as a group message board in my classes in the future. Too bad classes are done for the term because I tried it out and this is what I came up with! This is something I will definitely try out in January when classes start up again. Perhaps I can even add other posties for questions and games that I can engage my students in.

Teacher Ria's Gloo Space!

I can just imagine the potential of this space for collaboration! For example, this would be a good option for brainstorming because everyone can put in ideas at the same time then we can identify threads right away. Also, as the teacher, I can monitor who is participating and who is not. I think this would be a good way for me to see also who in the group ends up being a freeloader by observing what is going on in these spaces. Interesting!

In trying it out in the beginning, I had some problems with the slow loading of widgets and erasing of doodles I made on my workspace. At first I thought it had something to do with my provider, because I assumed since Gloo is powered by Globe it would be better if I subscribed to Globe Broadband however after updating my browser, it worked just fine. An added bonus, however, for Globe subscribers is that you can even send an SMS or MMS to your Gloo spaces. I have yet to try that though. Right now I am still exploring the space but if you're curious about it, you can inquire about Gloo and read their FAQ page.

A limitation of my Gloo space right now, however, is that I only have a few friends to Gloo with. So...I Gloo...do you? Gloo with me :-)

Lost in Translation

2009-12-13T12:26:00.002+08:00

I have always wanted to learn how to speak a foreign language. At home, my mom and her siblings speak fluent Spanish while most of my cousins and I get lost in translation once they start babbling away in Spanish. I have tried learning the language with books and audio tapes but so far, I can only pick up a few phrases and words.

I think being able to speak another language is such a big advantage, especially in today's world. People who are fluent in French, Mandarin, Spanish, Japanese and other widely spoken languages are in high demand. Jobs can range from call center agents to being a translator for big companies.My friend who speaks fluent French got a great online job tutoring French students, simply because he could speak the language!

As for me, I would love to enrol in a course to learn another language, if only I can fit in the time. I particularly would like to learn French, even though my family is Spanish. Even though they say the latter is more practical, I have always loved the melodic sound of the French language. I can imagine myself strolling down the Champs Élysées with my best friend just chatting away in the native tongue. However, for the meantime, I have settle for those free translation services or dictionaries online to learn it but one day, I will write a blog post in French for you to read!!!

Baby Bedtime Discoveries

2009-12-06T20:38:00.001+08:00

When I think of babies, images of happy, smiling, toothless little chubby faces dance in my head. I imagine the cooing bundles of joy seen in pictures and tv commercials for baby products. However, like what most parents can attest to, that is not always a baby's demeanor, especially when they are fussy because they need rest or did not have a good nights sleep.

Poor sleep leads not only to cranky babies, but to stressed out mommies as well. I remember when I was handling the infants class in UP CDC back in the day, I'd have parents come in and say "Teacher, pasensya ka na may sumpong si baby e" and then upon inquiry I find out that the baby was not able to sleep well the night before. I think poor sleep at any age would result in the same problem. I know I am exceptionally cranky when I don't get to sleep!

For many first time parents (even veteran ones!), dealing with a sleep deprived infant is a nightmare. Sleep problems can not only be detrimental to a child's mood, but it can also affect their development as a whole. Being single and childless, I have never really had to deal with problems in putting kids to sleep and I will admit that I have been guilty of being too quick to judge or criticize parents who can't put their kids to sleep. However, after attending the Baby Bedtime Discoveries with Johnson's Baby last November 21, I became more aware of the plight of parents with babies with sleep problems.

The event was hosted by Tintin Bersola-Babao. The Conservatory at the Manila Peninsula was converted into a very pretty nursery and we bloggers learned from sleep expert Dr. Luis Rivera and the Johnson's Baby Team about the importance of sleep and how to help your baby sleep better. A good nights sleep is just three steps away: a warm bath or punas, a soothing massage, and quiet time with baby. This was proven by a clinical study that showed improved sleep when following the Baby Bedtime Protocol.

For more information, check out the Johnson's Baby Bedtime website at http://www.babycenter.com.ph/bedtime. where you can learn more about the sleep protocol, results of the clinical trials, as well as tips, suggestions and stories of moms and their experiences with Johnson's Baby. You can even create a sleep journal for your little one there!

Dog Hair Everywhere!!!

2009-12-06T18:11:00.002+08:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Dirt Devil. All opinions are 100% mine.

The only downside to having an indoor dog is so much dog hair everywhere! Much as I love my Bubba, his constant shedding is wreaking havoc on my allergies. And yes, I'm asthmatic too. My doctor keeps telling me to get rid of the dog, but I said no. Instead, I got one of those small hand-held vaccuum cleaners. I figured it was enough to clean up the shed hair, especially on the couch and on the bed. However, I did not know that certain attachments or types of brushes would be better if my goal was to scoop up all that hair. For example, after our last car trip, I gave up on using my handheld car vaccuum cleaner to get the hair off the seat cover. I was using the typical car attachment and was getting frustrated that the hair was still there. Apparently, rolling brushes work better for that purpose. I always thought all vaccuum cleaners were created equal. Now I know better!

For more information on picking the right vaccuum for a particular purpose (i.e. for cars, pets, carpets, etc.) check out Dirt Devil's Holiday Buying Guide. The guide will also help you select the best deal for your money, especially if you plan to shop online this holiday season.

"I Am Nicely! is Giving Away a Vintage Stylish Cellphone Mobile Design Watch Necklace on Her Birthday"

2009-11-25T16:15:00.000+08:00

Woot! Another blog contest. I have to admit....nacha-challenge ako!!! Hopefully this is the contest that breaks my online random drawer spell...so far all contests that have been drawn that way have been futile for me!

With that I would like to invite you to also participate in another blog contest that I am joining in celebration of Nicely Rom's birthday on December 7. It is so easy to join!

Here's the mechanics:

1. Copy and paste her entire post (including the necklace photo below) in your websites, blogs or facebook notes.

2. Kindly fill in the blank: All I wish for Nicely is a check or two in her things to do list (as seen in her blog's sidebar) so she can fulfill her dreams!

3. The title of your post must exactly be "I Am Nicely! is Giving Away a Vintage Stylish Cellphone Mobile Design Watch Necklace on Her Birthday"

4. To validate your entry, please leave a comment and your entry's link on this post so that I can check and get back to you as soon as possible. Please don't forget to include your full name and e-mail address, too ☺

Deadline for submission of entries will be at 11:59PM of December 6, 2009. The winner will be drawn by an online raffle device and will be announced on her birthday.
The lucky one will then receive a Vintage Stylish Cellphone Mobile Design Watch Necklace, courtesy of my eBay.ph sponsor, Tinatindera. The winner will be informed of his/her winning through e-mail and the item will be sent to his/her preferred mailing address not later than December 14, 2009. The prize is not refundable for cash.

Good luck and thank you for your continued support to I Am Nicely! ♥lots

Happy Birthday Nicely!

The Heart of a Ninja

2009-11-24T17:04:00.004+08:00

I have always had a fascination with the ninja/trained warrior culture. I remember that when I was younger, I enjoyed the show Dark Angel a lot because it centered around the story of a young girl trained to be a fighter. I never knew, however, how deep and dark the roots of ninja culture is. And how heartless.

Such is the story of Raizo, a trained deadly Ninja Assassin. Orphaned at a young age, he was taken in my the Master of the Ozunu Clan, a mercenary group of assassins who's very existence was thought to be a myth. As a child, he was trained to be heartless and merciless, to follow the rules no matter what, and to be void of emotions that make man week. But after being devastated by the brutal murder of a friend who was deemed a traitor by the clan, Raizo defied all rules and escaped the life he knew and vowed to avenge his friends death.The story takes an exciting turn as Mika Coretti, a Europol agent bent on proving that ninjas did exist after stumbling upon a money trail linking unsolved political murders to the secret network of untraceable assassins, stirred up enough feathers to become the next target of the clan. In the end, Raizo shows there is more to the ninja than just the fighter.

The film was a breathtaking journey from the hidden training village of child assassins to Europe and back...literally! I had my hands wrapped around my head for majority of the movie, peeking through my fingers for the most part! To be fair, I enjoyed the film a lot, despite all the blood, gore and guts. Admittedly action flicks are not my preferred genre, but I think if you're into it, you'd have a good time. Part of me wishes I had taken my brother, JJ, to see it with me because he LOVES films like this.
Many thanks to Warner Bros. Pictures for the invitation to the premiere of Ninja Assassin last Friday, Nov. 20, at the Gateway Cinemas. Extra special thanks for the exclusive prize I won during the screening! My raffle malas is officially over!

Ninja Assassin Notebook autographed by Rain!

Math and Me.

2009-11-22T20:56:00.002+08:00

Math and Me don't have the closest of relationships. In fact, ever since childhood, my lowest grades were always in math. No matter how much math help I received from my mom, who's an accountant, I always had difficulty with it. To be fair, I always managed to pass all my math subjects but it wasn't always painless.

In my college days, I even went as far as getting a tutor to help my with my college algebra. Sadly, I still failed the subject, thus causing me a possible cum laude award on graduation. Today's students, however, can get online math help. Not only is it online, but they can even get free online math help!

The internet has definitely become a very valuable resource in learning. Through the internet, one can receive online math tutoringthrough websites and programs such as TutorVista. An online math tutor is available 24/7 and can offer one-on-one sessions in a secure web environment. No special gadgets or tools are needed, just your home computer and a reliable broadband connection. The virtual whiteboard allows both tutor and student to communicate complete with animation and real-time solutions. Cool, huh? An added bonus is that Free online math tutoring is right at your fingertips, compared to a face-to-face tutor who you still need to schedule. While I am glad most of my math days are over, I can't help but think how different my math experience would have been if TutorVista was available back then...

An Early New Years Resolution

2009-11-22T16:21:00.000+08:00

Every year I tell myself it is pointless to come up with New Years Resolutions because every year, no matter how hard I try, I do not meet my resolutions. However, for 2010, I think I HAVE to do this one:

I need to plan my days more efficiently.

Lately I've noticed that I keep forgetting things I have to do, mainly because I have so many "slash" jobs (Hindi ako slasher ha! It's just that I am a teacher-slash-professor-slash-psychologist-slash-blogger-slash-pseudomommy). That, coupled with my age, makes it difficult to remember everything. Therefore, I need a planner.

With that said, I am keeping my fingers crossed that I win the 2010 Belle de Jour planner from a contest being hosted at KikayCorner.net.

Besides this being a cute planner, I think it will help in my goal to planning my year better. Oh, and the coupons in it are priceless!

More than Just a Caffeine Fix: Coffee 101 and My Day as a Barista

2009-11-18T22:59:00.005+08:00

I once applied as a Barista for a popular coffee chain. No joke...I really did! Suffice it to say I didn't get the job but when I sent in my resumé, I was under the impression that there really was not that much into making a good cup of coffee. After all, as long as I could follow instructions, that should be enough, right? However, after being able to attend a Coffee 101 Workshop hosted by Ms. Pacita "Chit" Juan, co-chair the Philippine Coffee Board, I realized there is so much more to coffee than meets the eye. Or should I say nose? Good coffee goes beyond just how it smells, looks or is prepared. It starts from how and where it is grown to how it is picked, processed and roasted. Also, it depends on the variety of the coffee. In the Philippines, four varieties are grown and harvested for commercial use. These are Coffea Arabica, Coffea Canephora or Robusta, Coffea Liberica which is popularly known as Barako, and Coffea Excelsa. The flavor you get depends on the variety of the bean. Among the four species, the most fragrant is Arabica. It is also the most widely traded variety. However, the most popular variety here in the Philippines, especially for instant coffee, is the Robusta which is known for its body and strong character. This is why instant coffee gives us a jolt or makes us palpitate quickly, because of the robust quality of the bean. Interesting, huh? Liberica, on the other hand, is more earthy while Excelsa is more fruity.

There is a science behind coffee and an art to mastering it. In fact, during the seminar, I was given the chance to fulfill that dream of becoming a barista. And yes....my first attempt was a dismal failure! It seems I didn't pack or press the coffee grounds hard enough, thus when the pressurized water from the espresso machine passed through it, it did not have that good espresso quality. To be fair, when I did it over, I got it right!

Contrary to my beliefs, good coffee does not necessarily have to come from Columbia or Brazil but in truth, we can buy Philippine coffee and be proud of it's excellent quality and flavor.

Prior to the workshop, I knew nothing about the diffrent variants of coffee beans or grounds. Whether it be Arabica or Robusta, all that mattered to me was that it smelled good...and that is was affordable. To be honest, buying coffee beans (especially here in Manila) does not come cheap! Further, I used to think that "house blend" would be the best option ALL the time. There is a thought process behind what type of coffee to buy, as well as what kind of roast or grounds to choose. For example, the kind of grounds you would choose would depend on how you will be preparing your coffee. This explains why my morning coffee always has a lot of powdery-sediment in the bottom of my cup.I definitely learned a lot about coffee and would love to learn more about preparing it better. If you already love coffee, you will surely have a deeper appreciation of it if you attend the Coffee 101 workshop yourself. The Philippine Coffee Board also hosts other workshops such as Basic Barista Training.

The seminar was held in Le Bistro, a quiet nook along Valero Street in Salcedo Village. With it's artsy interiors and cozy ambiance, it would be great to hold meetings and Christmas parties at Le Bistro.

photo credits: Jen Juan, a.k.a. SexyNomad :-)

After enjoying the café mocha I had made myself, I was treated to a little token...a bag of Yrong Yrong Blend Coffee! This is the first time I will be sampling this blend which comes from Iloilo. I'm really looking forward to trying it! This Christmas, you may want to try giving your friends, colleagues and loved ones some of the Philipine's finest coffees, especially those who are not aware of all the available local options we have. However, if they are not coffee drinkers, you may want to buy Christmas gift baskets at Echo Store, a local eco-friendly store that aims to promote a sustainable lifestyle by supporting marginalized communities in the Philippines.

I Want Them Free.

2009-11-18T19:35:00.000+08:00

There are just a few things in life I hate having to pay for. For the most part, I understand why I have to dish out cash for services, items and the like. After all, that's the way it is, right? But one thing I really, really hate paying for is parking, especially parking fees by the hour. It's especially even more hateful when I have to pay for parking in the grocery. I feel ripped off because the purpose of my going there is not really for fun. I go there and pay them a whole bunch of cash and they can't even give me a free parking slot??? FRUSTRATING!!! I was shocked when I passed by a gas station in the corner of Makati Avenue once and found out that if I were to park in their little lot to have a snack or buy something in their Select store I have to pay for parking! NOT FAIR. In the mall, I guess I can say I kinda understand since there are a lot of different establishments there so you don't really know who can be accountable for your time in the parking lot.

*sigh* I wish there was a way that parking came free. Okay, maybe not necessarily all free...perhaps having your parking ticket validated as long as you spend a certain amount while in the establishment? That would be a good option!

The Future of Music at MTV Emerge

2009-11-15T18:21:00.006+08:00

When I say I am proud to be Pinoy, it isn't hard to explain why. I come from a land that is filled with amazing beauty: both in terms of nature and in it's people. This is why no matter how much people suggest to me I apply for jobs abroad, I still choose to stay here. I believe there is still so much potential that is untapped in our country and I hope that in my own way, I am able to show the world that potential. This is also what the MTV, Jeepney Music, and Department of Tourism collaboration is doing: showing the world the hottest emerging music talents in the Philippines. Whether it be indie, hip-hop, rock or whatever other genre of music, the campaign seeks to be a cesspool of the best and the brightest of the future of Philippine Music.

New local talent were invited to register and upload their profiles, photos and original music to the MTV Emerge site during the contest period. From these, the public audience will vote for their favorites. 7 lucky talents will win a one-year recording contract with Jeepney Music where they will be under the mentorship of none other than a proud Filipino himself, Apl.de.Ap. Along with the contract comes a package including artist management and promotion, digital ditribution of 3-6 songs and a strategic marketing plan for these artists to break into both the local and international scenes.

Check out all the amazing and talented artists who have uploaded their videos on MTV Emerge now. There are so many great videos! I personally voted for God Bless Philippines by Rapnophobia I loved their video, especially the imagery they used to convey the message of their song. If you like it as much as I do, do vote for them too!

2012.

2009-11-15T15:29:00.001+08:00

Last Friday night, I was able to see the movie 2012 thanks to Myk and to TV5. It was one of the most intense movies I've seen in a long time! I've seen a lot of "end of the world" and doomsday stories and each one gets more and more amazing in terms of cinematography and digital effects. With regards to the story, however, I feel that there is really a common thread uniting all these movies. There's always the unassuming, not-so-well off character who has his own personal demons to contend with (usually issues with marriage and the kids), then comes the unlikely hero who stands for humanity and calls for unity, and of course, the sheer luck that manages to save them in time. Not that that's a bad thing, but it made me anticipate what would happen next.

Anyway, what I liked about the movie (besides the cool visual imagery) is that it made me reflect on what I really believe in. I used to see myself as a very advanced and modern thinker, but the movie made me realize that deep down inside, what I really believe in is not really science, but what my faith tells me. Maybe some might find that hard to believe, even strange perhaps. But I left the cinema with a stronger faith in my God that despite the troubles of the earth, He will not abandon me. Controversial thought? What do you think? Will a 2012 scenario ever happen???

A City of Romance.

2009-11-12T21:56:00.003+08:00

Not so long ago, my cousins toured my dream destination: Paris. She came home with photo after photo that left me wishing I could have also been there. In my fantasies, I imagine myself honeymooning in Paris. There's simply something so irresistibly romantic about that city. I can just imagine myself strolling down the Champs Élysées and then standing in awe of the Eiffel Tower. As I think about it, images of Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada dance around in my head to the tune of Moonriver. Ooohh...Paris.

From now till November 19, 2009 visiting this dreamy destination is made even more plausible with British Airways November Seat Sale. Travel packages go for as low as $749! British Airways also boasts of it's world class service and is sure to offer you a highly pleasurable experience with their ergonomically designed seats which definitely will not make the long trip hard on your body. Plus expect complementary food and cocktails during your flight and over 200 in-flight entertainment options.

British Airways flies to many other destinations around Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa. So if Paris is not your cup of tea, why not check out their holiday guides to Cairo, Dubai, Hong Kong, the Maldives and so much more. So what are you waiting for? Whip out those passports and start booking your trips!

A Matter of Perspective.

2009-11-12T21:20:00.000+08:00

Sometimes I get tired of hearing the phrase "it's all a matter of perspective". Similarly, people always try to cheer you up by saying something like look at the bright side or it could have been worse. While I know that these are true, at times it can get infuriating, especially when you feel that changing the way you view things is not enough.

I guess what I've learned over the past few months since is that beyond changing my point of view is recognizing that one needs to be proactive about what it is he or she wants to change in themselves. It's more than just a matter of perspective.

Wala lang. Thought of the day lang.

Shhh....

2009-11-12T19:54:00.001+08:00

Today I will rant.

Or maybe I shouldn't.

There are too many conversations in my head that should go shhhhhhhh......

*sigh*

Mobile Banking and More.

2009-11-08T14:38:00.001+08:00

Nowadays there are so many ways to settle whatever bills pop into your mailbox. Gone are the days of standing in queue in multiple banks, service centers and what not..Today, one does not even need to leave the comforts of their own homes to settle utility bills, pay for school tuition or even make payroll disbursements. And yes, you don't even need a computer to do all these and more.

With just a mobile phone, not only are those transactions settled, you can also do online purchases via GCASH Click, pay for airplane tickets, make donations to various institutions or organizations, pay for your insurance and make loan payments as well. Powered by BPI Mobile Banking, Globe and TM subscribers have a new handy way of managing their banking transactions.Families of OFW's can also maximize their hard-earned money from abroad with GCASH REMIT which enables their families here to instantly claim their remittances in over 2,500 locations around the country.

However, if doing online banking was a big step forward for a person like me (yes, despite my being a child of modern technology!) I still have some fears and trepidations about mobile banking. In fact, one thing I still consider when online shopping, such as in Multiply, is how payments are made. I still feel a bit confused about how these GCASH and mobile money transferring works.Also, I am the type of person who feels more at ease when someone explains to me how things work over reading it from a webpage. It makes me feel more secure about what I'm doing. To clarify these issues, Globe GCASH is sponsoring the upcoming DigitalFilipino E-Commerce Summit on November 12 and 13 where the president of G-Xchange, Inc, Ms. Rizza Maniego-Eala will talk about the challenges and opportunities in mobile money transfers.

Anticipating: Starbucks Planner 2010!!!!

2009-11-03T20:39:00.005+08:00

In less than 12 hours (oo na, adik na kung adik) Starbucks will launch it's Red Cups and Starbucks Planner for 2010. I can barely wait! In the meantime, I dusted off my shelf and decided to take stock of my current collection. At present I'm at 46 and counting! I realized I lost 2 tumblers in the past few monthsl: the DIY tumbler and an orange one my stepdad brought me home from the States. I think I left them in the school cafeteria :-(

Anyway, tomorrow, I will foolishly troop to the nearest Starbucks to start my new quest. I wish I can afford to claim all three designs they are launching. I wonder how many stickers I will need...how many calories I will consume...and how many nights I'll be up due to all that caffeine.

Oh Lordy...someone give me a Belle De Jour planner and tell me to shut up already.

Yeah right. See you in Starbucks tomorrow. Last year it took me all of 8 days to get my first planner. Let's see how this one goes.

Finding the Right Router.

2009-11-03T12:39:00.002+08:00

One of my favorite features on my Nokia E63 is its wifi capability. I love how it makes the world wide web so handy. However, I don't have a wireless router at home. Well, I guess I never really needed it before but now that I have a handheld wifi-enabled device, it would make sense to get a router, right? The problem is I can't decide what to get!!! First there's the issue of wireless n's or wireless g's. Then comes the brand and model issues!!! There's Linksys, D-Link, TP Link and now I come across a Belkin! Argh!!!! Couldn't there just be one obvious choice??? Okay, okay, most recomment linksys but it costs much more!!! Put it this way: a Linksys Wireless G or a Belkin Wireless N? Both cost roughly the same. Opinions?

Do You See What I See?

2009-10-30T23:07:00.005+08:00

No, I'm not singing a Christmas carol here! It's just that I've noticed that in the past year or so, my eyesight is not as good as it used to be. Perhaps it's because I'm in front of the computer for long all the time, or perhaps it's simply because of the aging process. Whatever it is, it definitely is a hindrance. For example, before, I could use my small lappy to do photo editing. Now, I need to zoom into the photos to edit it!

I think I'm not alone in saying clearer vision does make life so much easier. Take for example an episode in Grey's Anatomy where one of the characters was explaining her realization that the little green blobs she used to see around her were leaves after she got her glasses. Nowadays, prescription glasses, or contacts for that matter, are not the only way to get better vision. With laser surgery or correction, bad vision can be a thing of the past.

If you have your own story of how having clearer eyesight has made a difference in your life, join

the iLASIK Video Contest and get a chance to win $ 5,000!

All you have to do is submit a video telling your story in any of the following categories:

“My contacts are getting in the way of my good time”
“My favorite sport or activity would be so much cooler with better vision”
“You should see life after the iLASIK® Procedure

After submitting your entry at www.GottaSeeThisNow.com, tell your friends to vote! Besides the $ 5,000 grand prize, other prizes at stake are 3 HDTV packages (one for each category) worth $2,500 each, and 3 Flip UltraHD™ camcorders (one for each category) worth $ 199.99!

What are you waiting for? Join now!

I Ate To Educate!

2009-10-30T21:59:00.003+08:00

click on photo to enlarge

My Halloween Cupcakes!!!

2009-10-30T18:53:00.005+08:00

I just have to share my excitement over this:

aren't they so cute?!? I usually bake cupcakes/muffins, cookies and date walnut bars for the Christmas holidays but this year, my partner and I got an order for Halloween cupcakes for a party. After a few tries, we finally got a good frosting and set of patterns going. This is a perfect trick or treat giveaway for an office party don't you think? Hmmm...I wonder what would be a good costume for the servers handing these out. Perhaps a batch of waitresses in can can Halloween costumes? Now I wonder, what would be a bigger hit, the cupcakes or the costumes?!?

Battle For Terra

2009-10-30T18:46:00.002+08:00

It is not very often that an animated film has a message about caring for our environment. However, the movie Battle for Terra is a good tale of just that. Although the story may not preach about taking care of our earth per se, it gives a good visual reference to what might happen if we don't do so.

Thanks to SM Digital Cinemas and Hero TV for the invitation to the special 3D screening of Battle for Terra!

Desperately Needing Car Repairs.

2009-10-28T09:16:00.002+08:00

I really need to take my car in to the shop for it's 30,000 km check up. Unfortunately, in the wake of the killer typhoons that hit different parts of the country in the last month, car repairs are severely backed up. I can't even fit in a schedule! I understand the delay though. Some car shops have offered a helping hand to typhoon victims through lowering labor or service costs. Some companies have even completely waived these fees. Unfortunately, car parts needed for repair for cars that got submerged in floods are running low. Some car owners have started to turn to the internet to get good deals on car parts such as an ac compressor. Speaking of cars needing service, this is the scene I see outside my office window!!!

I Dare to Be Fit n' Right Again!

2009-10-27T17:51:00.017+08:00

Three years and many pounds ago, I was at the peak of health. Perhaps, I could even say I was definitely Fit 'n Right. I had just won a battle with obesity and my health was in tip top condition. Two years prior to this, I had been diagnosed with a medical condition called PCOS which was being exacerbated by the fact that I was grossly overweight. I went from being almost 220 pounds to about 130 in a span of about 11 months, which left me looking somewhat haggard and old. However, after finding a good balance between diet and exercise, I got to a good place with regards to my health. I was not only physically fit, but I was living a healthy lifestyle. Like I said, Fit 'n Right. Just look at the transition:

at over 200 pounds in 1998

mid -2005. Much thinner but not healthy. Look at the sunken eyes and
haggard look

early 2006: some weight regained but definitely a healthier
and happier me

However, became lazy and careless with my diet, I slowly began to gain weight again. Plus my hormone condition started acting up again, thus the pounds just keep coming on. Before I knew it, I could barely fit into my clothes again. Because of that, I decided it was (correction: IT IS!) time for me to take the DARE TO BE FIT 'N RIGHT challenge. I know it's not going to be as easy as before, especially since I am much older now than when I first needed to lose weight, after all, it is a known fact that weight loss is usually more difficult once you reach your 30's.

Lucky for me, I got invited to the Fit n' Right Blogger Event last October 23, 2009 held in Taste Asia in the Mall of Asia where I was introduced to two revolutionary tools that can help me take on my battle with the pounds.

First is a new workout routine by sports guru and Master Coach Jim Saret. His workout, coined the F.I.T. Workout, or the Fast Interval Training, it is a four-minute workout that makes you burn at least 400 calories. Not just that, this exercise actually continues to burn calories even after the workout! Imagine that! This is a workout that definitely can fit in to almost anyone's lifestyle, especially bloggers like me who find themselves in front of the computer for hours on end. Not only is the workout quick, it also is very accessible to all because you don't need any fancy gym equipment or space for that matter. In some ways, it reminded me of a workout that my sister, who is an athlete, used to talk about. She would talk about burst training and how these sudden intervals or bursts of speed in her strength training made her more fit. I guess the same scientific principles apply to both my sister and Coach Saret's workout. Bottom line: not only is this four minute workout is something I can have time to do, but it can burn more calories than an hour on the treadmill or several kilometers of jogging can do.

Bloggers Earth, Dani and Jeff take on the FIT Workout! The Workout
consists of a series of exercises you do in brief spurts (hence Fast Interval Training).
Exercises include body weight lifting (as Jeff is doing), squats (like Earth),
lunges (demonstated by Dani) and push ups. For beginners, do about 10 counts of
each exercise for as many reps as possible within the 4 minutes. For more
advanced individuals, you can increase difficulty by using
TheraBall, Bands andsimilar accessories.
photo credit: Jennie Aspacio of marriageandbeyond.com

A partner to this workout is Del Monte's Fit 'n Right Juice Drink.

This is the second revolutionary tool to fitness. I have to be honest though: growing up I was made to believe anything with juice drink on it was unhealthy. According to dietitians I went to back then, these were overloaded with sugar. However, these juice drinks have evolved since that time. This was even proven by a clinical study conducted by Dra. Leonora Panlasigui and the University of the Philippines. In their study, it was proven that Fit 'n Right can help one lose as much as 16.7% body fat in 6 weeks when combined with diet and exercise. Research shows that Fit 'n Right can actually help in weight loss because of the L-Carnitine and B Vitamins 1, 6, 12 in it. L-Carnitine, which occurs naturally in the body and is found in many of the things we eat such as red meat, helps burn fat by transporting fatty acids into the mitochondria, which is known as our cell's powerhouse or energy sources. These fats are then burned into energy. Vitamin B, on the other hand, helps speed up metabolism. As such, taking Fit 'n Right at least 2 hours before exercise can help maximize it's fat burning potential. Paired with the F.I.T. workout, these juice drinks can help speed up your weight loss. Since Fit 'n Right is the first and only juice drink with a blend of L-Carnitine and B Vitamins, it really is (as their commercial claims) a refreshing way to burn. Fit 'n Right now comes in more delicious flavors and more affordable 1 liter bottles. My personal favorites are the Blueberry and Grape, Watermelon and Apple flavors. For a healthy snack, try out the Fit 'n Right Fruit Snacks too!
One thing to remember, however, is that Fit 'n Right alone is not the answer to losing weight. It has to be taken in with a good diet and exercise. In the same manner, just doing the FIT Workout without watching what you eat does not mean that you will lose weight. Sometimes we tend to think that taking supplements OR doing a magic workout will be enough to burn away the pounds. It has to be a lifestyle choice. This means that you don't just stop when you reach your ideal weight (which obviously I did the last time around!). It means that you have to eat, live and breathe healthy. After all, that's what being Fit 'n Right is really all about! This is why as part of their commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle, the Fit 'n Right campaign will culmuinate with the Dare to Be Fit 'n Right Fun Run 2009 on November 22 at the SM Mall of Asia. There are 3 categories to chose from: the 3K, 5 K or 10K run. Besides the health benefits of running plus the chance to take home exciting prizes, participants also support a very worthy cause: the Men and Women's Open will benefit victims of Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng through the SM Foundation.

click on photo to enlarge, or read details below.
Check out the Fit 'n Right fan page in Facebook too!

Fun Run Details:
When: November 22, 2009.
Where: SM Mall of Asia grounds
How: Register at the following areas: CEMG Office – Unit 3A Vernida I Bldg., Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City/ Look for Marianne Tapales (892.5842/09155498282); Dare to be Fit ‘n Right booths in Bonifacio High Street, Taguig and in selected SM Hypermarkets: Mall of Asia, Sucat, Pasig, and North EDSA; Fitness First branches on November 16, 2009. You can also REGISTER ONLINE.
Cost: Php 300 inclusive of race packet with the Dare to Fit ‘n Right Fun Run singlet, race bib, Fit ‘N Right products, etc.
Prizes at stake: cash and gift prizes from Del Monte and sponsors. Plus a chance to win a Lenovo Laptop in the raffle!

A Couch Potatoes Best Friend

2009-10-26T19:29:00.003+08:00

The other day, my friend and I were window shopping around Mall of Asia when out of the blue, he commented on how easy it is to get good TV deals now. He was quite amazed at how affordable these television sets have gotten. In fact, he said that if only his cash wasn't earmarked for a new cellphone, he would have gladly gotten one of those more affordable LCD TV's. After all, a good TV set is a couch potatoes best friend!

If I were to purchase a new television, I think I would stick with a SamsungTV. The last two TV purchases we've made were of this brand, and so far, I've been happy with it. One thing I don't like, though, are the remote controls. For some reason, both the remotes broke within the first year or so. Then again, it really didn't make much of a difference since I have one of those universal remotes. How I wish Santa one of these down my chimney this Christmas!

The Ugly Truth.

2009-10-25T16:54:00.002+08:00

Yes...this is why I'm single!!! I guess the Ugly Truth made me realize that. I think it's because growing up, most girls are made to believe in the fairy-tale romance. In the movie, though it did have a relatively fairy tale ending, was an eye-opening, hilarious look on the complex relationship called love. Suffice it to say: it made the concept of love, falling in love and being in love seem more real, yet fun. While watching the movie, I remembered words from a guy I used to go out with ring in my head. When he told these to me years ago, I dismissed it as him being insensitive and a coward but seeing it played out on the big screen made me realize that he was being real (but still insensitive I suppose, haha!)

Seriously, though, I have watched so many movies this year but this has got to be one of my favorites so far!!!

Surprise in the Mail.

2009-10-25T16:31:00.003+08:00

More often than not, the only thing that enters most mailboxes are bills. Bills and junk mail. Since the email revolution, snail mail has decreased markedly, particularly for personal communication. Yesterday, however, I found a surprise in the mail. When I opened my mailbox, I found a birth announcement from a good friend of mine who I had not known was expecting! It felt nice seeing something from a mail box rather than an inbox for a change. So much so that I got to thinking, perhaps since Christmas is approaching, maybe I should send real Christmas cards this year rather than e-cards.

I wonder, though, if people still maintain these boxes nowadays. I know mine's kinda rusty and sometimes I find leaves in them. I looked around the village and noticed that most of my neighbors are in a similar situation. I did see, however, one of those pretty wall mount mailboxes with nice etchings on it. It made me realize that mailboxes aren't just drop-off boxes for mail, but they can also be very nice accessories or ornaments for your home.

All Set for Driving.

2009-10-24T20:31:00.002+08:00

In less than a years time, my brother is turning 16. That only means one thing: getting a learners permit! For many people, getting a new car is one of the most exciting experiences. It sure was for me. As early as now, he is asking if he will get a new car when he is old enough to drive. Of course if money was no object, getting him a brand new car is definitely the best option. However, for new drivers like him, perhaps checking out trusty and reliable used cars would be a better option. Second-hand cars are often much cheaper than fresh-of-the-assembly-line cars. For someone who is still learning the ropes on being behind the wheel (thus perhaps a higher probability of fender benders and poor handling), it may be a more cost-effective way of getting a set of wheels.